Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and Probability
This article discusses the relationships between Thomas Pynchon’s novels and the philosophy of chance and probability, especially in connection with quantum theory, which radically redefined our thinking concerning both concepts, and to begin with, the nature of physical reality. The article conside...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Association Française d'Etudes Américaines
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Transatlantica |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/15498 |
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| _version_ | 1832580761073483776 |
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| author | Arkady Plotnitsky |
| author_facet | Arkady Plotnitsky |
| author_sort | Arkady Plotnitsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article discusses the relationships between Thomas Pynchon’s novels and the philosophy of chance and probability, especially in connection with quantum theory, which radically redefined our thinking concerning both concepts, and to begin with, the nature of physical reality. The article considers how different scientific theories dealing with chance and probability figure in Pynchon’s major novels, which, the article argues, helps us to think more deeply about Pynchon’s use of these theories or other mathematical and scientific theories, and about the relationships among literature, philosophy, and mathematics and science in general. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-758897800283470c8bef063b73478775 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1765-2766 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Association Française d'Etudes Américaines |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Transatlantica |
| spelling | doaj-art-758897800283470c8bef063b734787752025-01-30T10:43:51ZengAssociation Française d'Etudes AméricainesTransatlantica1765-27662020-12-01110.4000/transatlantica.15498Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and ProbabilityArkady PlotnitskyThis article discusses the relationships between Thomas Pynchon’s novels and the philosophy of chance and probability, especially in connection with quantum theory, which radically redefined our thinking concerning both concepts, and to begin with, the nature of physical reality. The article considers how different scientific theories dealing with chance and probability figure in Pynchon’s major novels, which, the article argues, helps us to think more deeply about Pynchon’s use of these theories or other mathematical and scientific theories, and about the relationships among literature, philosophy, and mathematics and science in general.https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/15498causalitychancemultiplicityprobabilityquantum theoryreality |
| spellingShingle | Arkady Plotnitsky Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and Probability Transatlantica causality chance multiplicity probability quantum theory reality |
| title | Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and Probability |
| title_full | Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and Probability |
| title_fullStr | Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and Probability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and Probability |
| title_short | Demons of Chance, Angels of Probability: Thomas Pynchon’s Novels and the Philosophy of Chance and Probability |
| title_sort | demons of chance angels of probability thomas pynchon s novels and the philosophy of chance and probability |
| topic | causality chance multiplicity probability quantum theory reality |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/transatlantica/15498 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT arkadyplotnitsky demonsofchanceangelsofprobabilitythomaspynchonsnovelsandthephilosophyofchanceandprobability |