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Written in an engaging and accessible style, The Theory of Knowledge: A Thematic Introduction explains the main ideas and problems of contemporary epistemology, the philosophical study of knowledge. Comprehensive and rich in illustrations and examples, it deals with major topics while avoiding technical detail. It introduces traditional topics in epistemology within the context of contemporary debates about the definition, sources, and limits of human knowledge. It also relates epistemology to work in cognitive science and defends a plausible version of explanationism regarding epistemological method. A glossary of important epistemological terms and suggestions for further reading enhance the volume. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

unhelpful book
there are some other reviews given here that report well of this book.I must offer a different take on this.This book lacks a clear presentation of it's subject matter.It is a short book, and it is supposed to be for non-experts, but it is rather tortured in it's sentence construction and it uses complex wording in many ways.If one is already well versed in epistemology, ( the subject of knowing ) then this book probably will be of use as a review of knowledge theories, but otherwise, it will not educate very well.

A Short and Sweet Intro. to Epistemology
I came to epistemology relatively late, but since it asks how we know things, as both a scientist and as a Christian, I have grown to consider this one of the most compelling fields in philosophy.

This book has helped me along considerably. For a collaboration between three philosophers, the taut, cogent writing in this book is particularly impressive. The present all the key debates in modern epistemology, their roots, and then give you suggested readings at the end, so if something catches your fancy,you'll know where to look. And that sums it up: this is a fantastic introduction to epistemology.

Clear and concise introduction to epistemology
The "Theory of Knowledge" is a clearly written introduction to the field of epistemology ideal for new-comers to this important topic in philosophy.The book is written by three practicing philosphers who pool their understanding of epistemology to present the subject in simple, clear and vibrant language.

The first two chapters of the book lay the framework for subsequent discussions by explaining why the study of knowledge is important.This is followed in chapters 3, 4 and 5 by an explanation of the ideas of what the authors call the "traditional analysis of knowledge", namely, belief, truth and justification. As they describe it, belief is a necessary condition for knowledge; asking about truth boils down to discovering what conditions a sentence, statement, belief or proposition must satisfy to be true; and justification for our beliefs implies an "adequate indication" of truth.

Subsequent chapters discuss our sources of knowledge, rationality and skeptical theories to our ability to really have true knowledge of the world. The final chapter, "Epistemology and Explanation" fleshes out a position the authors raise at earlier points in the book; i.e., that of "inference to the best explanation" (also referred to as "abductive inference").Inference to the best explanation involves justifying our beliefs based upon the explanatory power of various claims about the world.One of the values of this approach, in my view, is that it moves away from the attempts of earlier philosophers to devise a universal theory of knowledge (which skepticsm has been able to easily shoot holes through).In keeping with their undogmatic and fair-minded style of presentation of the subject, the authors also discuss the limitations of abductive inference in answering skepticism.

The book provides a useful glossary of terms, references and a section for further reading based upon each of the book's chapters.The major benefit of this book is that its clear and no-frills presentation armed me with a basic and solid understanding of the field of epistemology whereby I can pursue a more advanced understanding of the field with confidence. ... Read more

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Centers around the theory of primitive forms which currently plays an active & key role in topological field theory (theoretical physics), but was originally developed as mathematical notion to define a - good period mapping - for a family of analytic structures.DLC: Quantum field theory. ... Read more

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Game theory has become increasingly popular among undergraduate as well as business school students. This text is the first to provide both a complete theoretical treatment of the subject and a variety of real-world applications, primarily in economics, but also in business, political science, and the law. Strategies and Games grew out of Prajit Dutta's experience teaching a course in game theory over the last six years at Columbia University. The book is divided into three parts: Strategic Form Games and Their Applications, Extensive Form Games and Their Applications, and Asymmetric Information Games and Their Applications. The theoretical topics include dominance solutions, Nash equilibrium, backward induction, subgame perfect equilibrium, repeated games, dynamic games, Bayes-Nash equilibrium, mechanism design, auction theory, and signaling. An appendix presents a thorough discussion of single-agent decision theory, as well as the optimization and probability theory required for the course. Every chapter that introduces a new theoretical concept opens with examples and ends with a case study. Case studies include Global Warming and the Internet, Poison Pills, Treasury Bill Auctions, and Final Jeopardy. Each part of the book also contains several chapter-length applications including Bankruptcy Law, the NASDAQ market, OPEC, and the Commons problem. This is also the first text to provide a detailed analysis of dynamic strategic interaction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

An ideal beginners guide to game theory
This book is the perfect mix of slow enough for beginners and math-enough for those that are more advanced.The examples used are clear and easy to follow.There are problems worked out in each chapter and plenty of additional exercises, so that a person can check their understanding.

Also, as the book continues, it gets complicated enough that those with a more advanced understanding can still find it challenging.Still, even with the more difficult math, there isn't a massive increase in jargon usage.

The examples are actually something that most people can relate to.I really think, with the most basic of math and statistics, a person could conceptually - and in practice - get something from this piece.Definitely a great text if you have a mixed class of students.

very good book
the book looks like brand new. very clean, and is carefully packaged.
suitable for beginners in game theory or topic review. recommend!

Open Yale text - very good reference
I am taking Game Theory through the Open Yale online course, and this is one of the recommended texts. If it has been a few years since you took your math and economics, you may find this heavy going. But, with the lectures and the class notes one can work through it.

The text is well organized, covers all the major topics you would expect, and complements the lectures well. It is definitely geared toward multiple constituencies and is suitable for economics buffs as well as politics and MBA types. Cases range from classic games to the WWI trenches to business and economics. Very engaging.

Highly recommended
This is definitely a very good introduction book. It is very accessible, while at the same time formalized enough to make it a good reference book.

It explains the results derived in a very intuitive manner, which I like a lot about this book. There is a straightforward, intuitive explanation provided for (almost) every result. The main points of every chapter are also outlined very nicely, the book has a great structure.

Another good thing is that the author quite often states straightforward questions right after claiming some result, like "..which leads us to ask...", or "...this begs the question of..." This is nice because it helps you keep track of what it is we are actually looking for or the general direction of the whole chapter.

The chapters are small, which I think is good because it allows the reader to get a sense of accomplishment rather often, great for motivation.

Unfortunately, there are no answers provided to the questions. If you are not bothered by that, then no problem. But I don't have that kind of dicipline, and I suspect most people don't, which is mostly why I took off one star. But on the other hand, I guess most other game theory texts don't provide answers either, so maybe I shouldn't hold it too much against it. All in all, it's a terrific book and game theory such a wonderful subject, so I can't but recommend it.

A great book for those interested in Game Theory
This is a great book for getting a good start in game theory.The proofs are laid out very clearly, which makes the whole book much easier to follow.Many of the more difficult topics are explained through exampleswhich makes the subjects more interesting, easier to follow, and better forlater application on your own.I have gone through quite a number of gametheory texts in the last few years and this one is by far the best I haveseen for someone just starting out.I recommend this text highly foradvanced undergrads and grad students who are just getting going in thesetopics.The dynamic game section was especially nicely done! ... Read more

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Topological K-theory is a key tool in topology, differential geometry and index theory, yet this is the first contemporary introduction for graduate students new to the subject. No background in algebraic topology is assumed; the reader need only have taken the standard first courses in real analysis, abstract algebra, and point-set topology. The book begins with a detailed discussion of vector bundles and related algebraic notions, followed by the definition of K-theory and proofs of the most important theorems in the subject, such as the Bott periodicity theorem and the Thom isomorphism theorem. The multiplicative structure of K-theory and the Adams operations are also discussed and the final chapter details the construction and computation of characteristic classes. With every important aspect of the topic covered, and exercises at the end of each chapter, this is the definitive book for a first course in topological K-theory. ... Read more

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This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the general theory of C*-algebras and von Neumann algebras. Beginning with the basics, the theory is developed through such topics as tensor products, nuclearity and exactness, crossed products, K-theory, and quasidiagonality. The presentation carefully and precisely explains the main features of each part of the theory of operator algebras; most important arguments are at least outlined and many are presented in full detail.

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As the foundational theory of modern psychological practice, psychoanalysis and its attendant assumptions predominated well through most of the twentieth century. The influence of psychoanalytic theories of development was profound and still resonates in the thinking and practice of today’s mental health professionals. Guide to Psychoanalytic Developmental Theories provides a succinct and reliable overview of what these theories are and where they came from. Ably combining theory, history, and biography it summarizes the theories of Freud and his successors against the broader evolution of analytic developmental theory itself, giving readers a deeper understanding of this history, and of their own theoretical stance and choices of interventions. Along the way, the authors discuss criteria for evaluating developmental theories, trace persistent methodological concerns, and shed intriguing light on what was considered normative child and adolescent behavior in earlier eras.

Each major paradigm is represented by its most prominent figures such as Freud’s drive theory, Erikson’s life cycle theory, Bowlby’s attachment theory, and Fonagy’s neuropsychological attachment theory. For each, the Guide provides:

• biographical information
• a conceptual framework
• contributions to theory
• a clinical illustration or salient excerpt from their work.

The Guide to Psychoanalytic Developmental Theories offers a foundational perspective for the graduate student in clinical or school psychology, counseling, or social work. Seasoned psychiatrists, analysts, and other clinical practitioners also may find it valuable to revisit these formative moments in the history of the field.

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Building on a base of simple economic theory and elementary linear algebra and calculus, this broad treatment of static and dynamic optimization methods discusses the importance of shadow prices, and reviews functions defined by solutions of optimization problems. Recently revised and expanded, the second edition will be a valuable resource for upper level undergraduate and graduate students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

over the hegde
The book focus on the intuition of the problems. I would say that is the point in which economics departs from mathematics. As an economist, I enjoyed the book. But honestly, I don't think a mathematician/engineer would like it.

Good Before Your First Year
If you haven't had a lot of math before entering an econ PhD program, this book is a great intro.I highly recommend if you need info on
- Lagrange's method & Shadow prices
- Value functions
- Convex sets
- Maximum Theorem
- Dynamic Programming
It's a quick read, but well worth your time.

Excellent supplement
This book is an excellent supplement for classroom lecture.I often used it to clarify methodology used in my graduate level macroeconomics course.The presentation of the maximum principle and Hamiltonians in dynamic optimization was most helpful.In about 10 pages he clarified what 6 hours of reviewing lecture notes could not.

I was very stupid to buy this book
Many people say this book is great. But donot be fool! They are trying to make you a fool!

The authors gets everything from the air! My impression is this book is a baby sersion of the Varian Microeconomic Analysis book. I learn absolutely nothing from this book.

elegant small book on economic theory
This book is a gem.Very clear exposition of the lagrange method and multipliers, and other optimization methods. Dixit finds economic intuition in every step of the math. I pick up this book anytime I need to remind myself how the mind of a clear economic thinker works.No personal economics library could be complete without it. ... Read more

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Beautifully written and elegantly presented, this book is based on 10 lectures given at the CBMS workshop on spectral graph theory in June 1994 at Fresno State University. Chung's well-written exposition can be likened to a conversation with a good teacher--one who not only gives you the facts, but tells you what is really going on, why it is worth doing, and how it is related to familiar ideas in other areas. The monograph is accessible to the nonexpert who is interested in reading about this evolving area of mathematics. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The secret of the Laplacian
This book is intended for the professional mathematician that want to learn about the misteries of the eigenspectrum of the graph laplacian.

A lot of misteries, a lot of fun.

Less than or equal to
I found some very good stuff in this book.
It is buried deep though.
Again Fan Chung writes a book on graph theory with
just about no simple examples or graphs at all.
The Cheeger constant and, both the volume and diameter measures
are not presented in an accessible way: just no real way to
calculate them is given.
What is important seems to be what isn't mentioned anywhere:
the Cartan, Dykin andCoxeter approach to graphs and large scale symmetry.
The treatment of the buckyball is the one concrete example and
the results instead of being explain are just given
without sufficient explanation.
I have also to review Fan Chung's 2006 lecture with Linyaun Lu Complex Graphs and Networks (Cbms Regional Conference Series in Mathematics) which appears to be a little better written.
Some one seem to have told Fan Chung that proofs with less an or equal to are O. K.: they are in most cases a bad mistake in a book such as this for graduate students.

Elegant and coherent, but a bit dry and unmotivated
This book is elegant and accessible, with a coherent presentation, but is a bit dry and unmotivated. The book would benefit from more applications, which should not be hard to find. I felt like Chapter 8 was the high point of the book, with a discussion of random walks, a matrix-tree theorem and invariant field theory.

The researcher who needs an arsenal of technical results in a clear style will find it here; the student who desires some added perspective may come away somewhat dissatisfied. ... Read more

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Provides a solid background in the basic topics of graph theory.Does not presuppose deep knowledge of any branch of mathematics, but requires only the basics of mathematics. DLC: Graph theory. ... Read more

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Bringing together the classicand the contemporary aspects of the field, thiscomprehensive introduction to network flowsprovides an integrative view of theory,algorithms, and applications.It offers in-depth and self-contained treatmentsof shortest path, maximum flow, and minimum costflow problems, including a description of new andnovel polynomial-time algorithms for these coremodels. For professionals workingwith network flows, optimization, and networkprogramming. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Informative
This book is quite informative on its subject; however, it is not the easiest to read.

the best network flow book for computer scientists
I've been using this book as the primary text for my class in
"Network Flow Programming" (senior & graduate level) at the
University of Tennessee for about 10 years.Prior to that time
I had used Jensen & Barnes' Network Flow Programming (now long out
of print).The code in Jensen & Barnes is in FORTRAN (not so fun
or useful for CS majors) and the intended audience seemed to be OR.
Ahuja's code is pascal pseudo-code for the most part, which usually
translates easily into the C language that most of our students
use.

For CS students, there is excellent use of algorithm analysis
(big-O) throughout the book, and there are long discussions
about different approaches and algorithms and the complexity of
each.There is a lot of mathematical notation, but my students
have never had to worry about PDEs and the like here.Any good
advanced CS student (graduate or undergraduate) will find the
book very worthwhile.In my course the students must implement
min-cost spanning trees, shortest paths, critical path/PERT
networks (not in Ahuja), max flow, and min-cost flow.I would
also recommend (for CS majors) Tarjan's excellent (and
succinct) Data Structures and Network Algorithms.

Good Introductory Book
This is a good introductory book. I particularly liked the applications of the problems, introduced in the book. The main negative point that I could mention is, the redundant explanations and discussions you might see in different chapters. I would say the volume of the book could have been reduced by some 15%-20%, if the authors had chosen to be more concise.
The book, Combinatorial Optimization by William J. Cook, et al, is an alternative. It covers a whole lot of topics and is just too succinct, a little more elaboration would have been appreciated !

Great book for Network Theory and Application
This book contains a lot of great algorithms for network flow theory and it also contains many of the great applications, which are very useful in practice. This book is very completed. Personally, I learn a lot of new things about Multi commodity Flow, which are the use of Lagrangian Relaxation, Column generation, Resource allocation techniques for solving multi commodity flow. There are also the good chapters in Convex cost flow and Generalized Flow and good appendix in complexity. Beside this book is very easy to read and understand. It is a great idea to have if you are in OR or IE major. :)

Great book for Network Theory and Application
This book contains a lot of great algorithms for network flow theory and it also contains many of the great applications, which are very useful in practice. This book is very completed. Personally, I learn a lot of new things about Multi commodity Flow, which are the use of Lagrangian Relaxation, Column generation, Resource allocation techniques for solving multi commodity flow. There are also the good chapters in Convex cost flow andGeneralized Flow and good appendix in complexity. Beside this book is very easy to read and understand. It is a great idea to have if you are in OR or IE major. :) ... Read more

Product Description
Is time, even locally, like the real line? Multiple structuresof time, implicit in physics, create a consistency problem. A tilt inthe arrow of time is suggested as the most conservative hypothesiswhich provides approximate consistency within physics and withtopology of mundane time.
Mathematically, the assumed constancy of the velocity of light (neededto measure time) implies functional differential equations of motion,that have both retarded and advanced deviating arguments with thehypothesis of a tilt. The novel features of such equations lead to anontrivial structure of time and quantum-mechanical behaviour. Theentire argument is embedded in a pedagogical exposition whichamplifies, corrects, and questions the conventionally acceptedapproach. The exposition includes historical details and explains, forinstance, why the entropy law is inadequate for time asymmetry, andwhy notions such as time asymmetry (hence causality) may beconceptually inadequate.
The first three parts of the book are especially suited assupplementary reading material for undergraduate and graduate studentsand teachers of physics. The new ideas are addressed to researchers inphysics and philosophy of science concerned with relativity and theinterpretation of quantum mechanics.
... Read more

Product Description
In algebraic topology some classical invariants - such as Betti numbers and Reidemeister torsion - are defined for compact spaces and finite group actions. They can be generalized using von Neumann algebras and their traces, and applied also to non-compact spaces and infinite groups. These new L2-invariants contain very interesting and novel information and can be applied to problems arising in topology, K-Theory, differential geometry, non-commutative geometry and spectral theory. It is particularly these interactions with different fields, that make L2-invariants very powerful and exciting. The book presents a comprehensive introduction to this area of research, as well as its most recent results and developments. It is written in a way which enables the reader to pick out his favourite topic and to find the result she or he is interested in quickly and without being forced to go through other material. ... Read more

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A textbook covering the essentials in coding theory and cryptography. Places emphasis on construction, encoding and decoding of specific code families in order to give students with only a basic mathematical background an understanding of the material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Helpful if you already know what you're doing
As textbooks go, this one isn't especially helpful. It serves as a useful reference or complement to a lecture, but it provides the bare bones of relevant material. I've had worse texts, but not many. ... Read more

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Topological K-theory is one of the most important invariants for noncommutative algebras equipped with a suitable topology or bornology. Bott periodicity, homotopy invariance, and various long exact sequences distinguish it from algebraic K-theory.

This book describes a bivariant K-theory for bornological algebras, which provides a vast generalization of topological K-theory. In addition, it details other approaches to bivariant K-theories for operator algebras. The book studies a number of applications, including K-theory of crossed products, the Baum-Connes assembly map, twisted K-theory with some of its applications, and some variants of the Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem.

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This volume presents the proceedings of the Joint Summer Research Conference on Algebraic $K$-theory held at the University of Washington in Seattle. High-quality surveys are written by leading experts in the field. Included is the most up-to-date published account of Voevodsky's proof of the Milnor conjecture relating the Milnor $K$-theory of fields to Galois cohomology. This book offers a comprehensive source for cutting-edge research on the topic. ... Read more

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This work challenges both the widely accepted view thatThe Dispossessed represents a new kind of literary utopia and the place of Ursula K. Le Guin's novel in the histories of utopian/dystopian literature and science fiction. ... Read more