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The Cambridge Quintet: A Work of Scientific Speculation

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The Cambridge Quintet: A Work of Scientific SpeculationIn this narrative tour de force, gifted scientist and author John L. Casti contemplates an imaginary evening of intellectual inquiry a sort of "My Dinner with" not Andre, but five of the most brilliant thinkers of the twentieth century. Imagine, if you will, one stormy summer evening in 1949, as novelist and scientist C. P. Snow, Britain's distinguished wartime science advisor and author of The Two Cultures, invites four singular guests to a sumptuous

In this narrative tour de force, gifted scientist and author John L. Casti contemplates an imaginary evening of intellectual inquiry--a sort of "My Dinner with" not Andre, but five of the most brilliant thinkers of the twentieth century.Imagine, if you will, one stormy summer evening in 1949, as novelist and scientist C. P. Snow, Britain's distinguished wartime science advisor and author of The Two Cultures, invites four singular guests to a sumptuous seven-course dinner at his alma mater, Christ's College, Cambridge, to discuss one of the emerging scientific issues of the day: Can we build a machine that could duplicate human cognitive processes? The distinguished guest list for Snow's dinner consists of physicist Erwin Schrodinger, inventor of wave mechanics; Ludwig Wittgenstein, the famous twentieth-century philosopher of language, who posited two completely contradictory theories of human thought in his lifetime; population geneticist/science popularizer J.B.S. Haldane; and Alan Turing, the mathematician/codebreaker who formulated the computing scheme that foreshadowed the logical structure of all modern computers. Capturing not only their unique personalities but also their particular stands on this fascinating issue, Casti dramatically shows what each of these great men might have argued about artificial intelligence, had they actually gathered for dinner that midsummer evening.With Snow acting as referee, a lively intellectual debate unfolds. Philosopher Wittgenstein argues that in order to become conscious, a machine would have to have life experiences similar to those of human beings--such as pain, joy, grief, or pleasure. Biologist Haldane offers the idea that mind is a separate entity from matter, so that regardless of how sophisticated the machine, only flesh can bond with that mysterious force called intelligence. Both physicist Schrodinger and, of course, computer pioneer Turing maintain that it is not the substance, but rather the organization of that substance, that makes a mind conscious.With great verve and skill, Casti recreates a unique and thrilling moment of time in the grand history of scientific ideas. Even readers who have already formed an opinion on artificial intelligence will be forced to reopen their minds on the subject upon reading this absorbing narrative. After almost four decades, the solutions to the epic scientific and philosophical problems posed over this meal in C. P. Snow's old rooms at Christ's College remains tantalizingly just out of reach, making this adventure into scientific speculation as valid today as it was in 1949.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Basic Books
Published: 04/23/1999
ISBN: 9780738201382
Pages: 208
Weight: 0.71lbs
Size: 9.14h x 5.94w x 0.26d
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SKU: 84816396452

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Shameeka Shaneice Ewing
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
Worth the money!
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Absolutely amazing product!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2026
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Lane
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Perfect beginner set
Color: Lightgreen
Love this!!! The toothbrush heads are a little flimsy but overall really liked this for my 3 year old.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2026
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Crunchy Life
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Super Cute, Fun, & Effective
Color: Lightgreen
This set of water flosser and electric toothbrush are just adorable! The shapes of them fit in the hands really comfortably, but also add to the cuteness as the shapes of the animals! Yes, this is meant for kids - so the toothbrush heads are small (for little kids), and the water flosser doesn't spray terribly hard. BUT they're still very effective. I especially like the water flosser. It can be taken into the bathtub/shower while bathing, so the spray doesn't end up going places we don't want water to go. It has a small tank of water, and I recommend using room temp water (rather than cold) so that it's comfortable on the gums and teeth. Also to note, the flosser doesn't work when it's sideways or upside-down - it needs to be held upright. This set is so cute, easy to use, easy to re-charge, and very comfortable. It's also very good quality - a great purchase. I love it!
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Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2026
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Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 4
4 year old approved!
Color: Lightgreen, Color: Lightgreen
Love that this is a complete set, down to the wall block for the charger! My daughter is 4 and absolutely loves this set. I personally feel like the toothbrush head is a tad small, but it does do the job well. Its a soft brush head, with plenty of replacement heads. The toothbrush and the flosser both arrived fully charged, and so far we havent had to recharge it, but we're only a few days in. So, it seems to have a pretty good battery life so far. (I will update my review if anything changes on that aspect) The toothbrush and flosser both stand upright independently on the counter, without tipping over. The water flosser is hard fir my daughter to do by herself. She sprays water everywhere, as theres several buttons on it and she cant seem to remember in time which button turns it off. I help her with flossing and its been going fine. Whether youre on high or low the water pressure is not too hard for a kids mouth. In fact, I think the low setting does nothing but rinse the mouth and basically teach the habit of flossing. We use the high setting and it does and OK job. I am a little old school though, and feel like nothing will top a good ole dental floss flossing, but water flossing is a safer route to avoid cutting gums or getting floss stuck between close teeth. The sound level is minimal, a fraction of the sound level my adult water flosser makes. It doesnt shake/vibrate too badly in the hand and theyre bith comfortable to hold, and size appropriate for my (4yrs) daughters hands. It comes in a really nice box, packaged perfectly, making this a great gift for your little ones. The colors and theme makes brushing teeth exciting and fun again for your littles :)
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Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2025
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Cyclegreen
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for kids
Color: Lightgreen
The HUACOCARE Kids Water Flosser and Electric Toothbrush Combo is an absolute game-changer for establishing a solid dental hygiene routine with children. The light green giraffe and monkey design is incredibly charming and immediately turned what used to be a bedtime struggle into a fun activity that my child actually looks forward to. Having both the sonic toothbrush and the water flosser in one compact unit is brilliant, as it saves counter space while ensuring that every part of their mouth gets a professional-level clean. The three gentle flossing modes and two sonic brushing modes are perfectly calibrated for younger, more sensitive gums, providing a thorough clean without any discomfort. One of the standout features of this set is how braces-friendly it is; the water flosser reaches those tricky spots around wires and brackets that a standard toothbrush simply can't touch. It is clear that a lot of thought went into the ergonomics and the "fun factor," making it a perfect gift that is both practical and engaging. Since we started using this combo, our dentist has noticed a significant improvement in plaque removal and overall gum health. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution to build healthy brushing habits and make dental care feel like less of a chore, this set is worth every penny.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2026

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