LAST CALL

This book tries to look at human thought and action from a scientific perspective, and in the process, acquaints the reader with essential concepts about science and its history. It takes a broad look at our present troubles without overlooking some crucial historical, religious, and political causes but places science at the center stage.

The author applies what he has learned throughout his career to go beyond science. After an introduction setting the scene and a review of the 'scientific temper' and the inexcusable ignorance of science by some leaders and many followers, the author turns his sharp vision to look at other issues. The most significant challenges are critical and global: climate change caused by our activities, stockpiles of nuclear weapons that are a constant threat, population growth, and increasing inequality at all levels. These problems do have a profound ethical character and threaten to end forever with our misery, producing a 'catastrophic convergence'.

Written with rigor for all readers, with many references and infused with relevant quotations, the author's message is clear: we need to change our ways drastically and urgently, now or never. But he offers not much in terms of a solution, something done by many authors to sweeten the pill, because as he argues, beyond lofty declarations, there is no real solution as the clock runs down, leading to his dystopian view of the future.

Contents:

• Thanks
• List of Figures
• List of Tables
• Introduction
• The Fleeting Visit of the Enlightenment
• Perspective
• A New Era and the Catastrophic Convergence
• A New Physical and Social Setting
• About Science
• Three Metaphysical Revolutions
• Beliefs and Knowledge
• The Growing Ecological Footprint
• Ozone and CO₂
• Escape
• Blowback and Nuclear Weapons
• Post-truth, Conspiracies, and Denialism
• The Tragedy of Our Time
• Ethics and Economics
• What to Do?
• Two Gates
• References
• Appendix: Further Reading
• Index

Readership: General.

'In the Last Call, Altschuler puts each of the major challenges (e.g. the environment, war and peace, poverty and inequality) under a microscope and bathes them in the multiple perspectives of hard science, social science, logic and morality. He does not so much offer solutions as he provides an astonishingly thorough way of looking at the questions. Readers ready to deal with complexity will reap a considerable harvest from Last Call. To make the most of such an intense work, you must have both curiosity and patience. But you will find it a valuable source of both information and spirit.' - Lloyd J DumasUniversity of Texas at Dallas