Knowing and Guessing.

from the library of a bletchley cryptographer

First edition, first printing of this unusual cross-disciplinary work by physicist Satoshi Watanabe (1910-1993). This copy from the library of British mathematician Peter Hilton (1923-2010), who worked with Alan Turing on the Naval Enigma at Bletchley Park and was a leader in the field of algebraic topology.

Author Satoshi Watanabe studied theoretical physics at Tokyo Imperial University, and then in Europe under de Broglie and Heisenberg. His most significant contributions were to debates about time symmetry in quantum dynamics; the development of two-state vector formalism; and his proposal of the ugly duckling theorem, which states mathematically that classification is not possible without bias.

The present work was an attempt 'to offer a unified theoretical view of a field now split into different disciplines: philosophy, information science, cybernetics, psychology, electrical engineering, physics. It investigates the cognitive process of knowing and guessing and in the course of this investigation a number of novel ideas and theories are explored' (blurb).

First edition, first printing; 8vo; diagrams and equations within the text, ink library stamps of Peter Hilton to the front endpapers, a few spots to the edges of the text block, original blue-grey cloth, titles to spine and upper board in white and black, an excellent copy in the rubbed jacket with some small nicks and short splits and spots on the lower panel; 592pp.