This book discusses a fundamental problem of the naturalsciences, namely, the observation of physical and biologicalsystems and the principles by which we gain informationabout these systems. Is it relevant whether the humanobserver is himself a part of the system in question? Whatdifference does this make to our representation of thephysical world? These difficult questions have occupiedscientists and philosophers from Decartes to Bell. In thelight of recent advances in quantum mechanics and the theoryof dynamical systems, there is good reason to tackle theseproblems afresh. This book will provide stimulating readingfor scientists and philosophers interested in thefundamentals of their trade.
