I am a strange loop
The world according to Douglas R Hofstadter. What is a Strange Loop? Strangely Wikipedia defines strange loop in terms of Hofstadter
...A strange loop arises when, by moving up or down through a hierarchical system, one finds oneself back where one started. Strange loops may involve self-reference and paradox. The concept of a strange loop was proposed and extensively discussed by Douglas Hofstadter in Gödel, Escher, Bach, and will presumably be further elaborated in the same author's new book I Am a Strange Loop, published in 2007.
Well isn't that strange? Hofstadter was obviously influenced in his coining of the phrase by the term Strange Attractor in the fields of dynamic systems and chaos theory.
In simple terms a strange loop occurs when a line of thought or an argument creeps up and bites itself on the backside.
Strange loops abound in the graphic works of M C Escher, the structures in the Music of JS Bach and are integral in the proof of Kurt Godel's famous Incompleteness Thereom. Hence Hofstatder's first book Godel, Escher Bach an Eternal Golden Braid.
Link to a video of Douglas Hofstadter
Hofstadter speaking at a conference about his forthcoming book.
Reviews of I am a Strange Loop
From all over the web
- An Excerpt from I Am a Strange Loop
- The latest work from the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Godel, Escher, Bach
- Legal Profession Blog: Critique of I Am a Strange Loop's Central Premise
- Prof Jeffrey Lipshaw's comments about physics versus I.
- A short interview with Douglas Hofstadter on wired
- Just a few Q & A's about IAASL
- Susan Blackmore's Review of I Am a Strange Loop by Douglas R. Hofstadter
- Review by Dr Susan Blackmore which was published in Nature
- Drew Olson's comment
- A blog item picking up on the theme of self reference in Hofstadter's work.
- David Brutonn's Review
- Techno writer/blogger David Brunton tells us what he dislikes about the book, but he is really so blown away that he gives it 5 out of 5 in this short review
- I am A strange book of the month
- Todd Seavey is a blogger and organiser of interesting debates and has made the book his selection for Book of the month.
- Going loopy over consciousness review in - Physics World - PhysicsWeb
- David Deutsch's review is an attempt to distil Hofstadter's argument down to a few paragraphs and then sees if he has explained the nature of I.
More Reviews and Blogs
- Experimental Theology: Strange Loops and Theology, Part 1: The Gödelian Swirl of Self
- Richard Beck, Associate Professor of Psychology at Abilene Christian University is an experimental psychologist with interests in the psychology of religion.
- blog.myspace.com/squidist
- MySpace Blog, by michael, including a self watching television
A few more reviews
Vote a review up or down if you think they are good, or bad!
Premium Wordpress Themes
premiumthemes.net provides Premium Wordpress Theme more...1 point
Blather: I Am A Boring Loop
A Blogger who finds the book boring...it takes all more...0 points
getAbstract Book Summaries: I Am a Strange Loop
Even this Business Management site thinks I am a s more...0 points
Books by Hofstadter
Vote for your favourite!
I am a Strange Loop by Douglas R. Hofstadter
The latest work. Published early 2007.0 points
Metamagical Themas: Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern by Douglas R. Hofstadter
Hofstadter's pieces from Scientific American, alon more...0 points
The Mind's I: Fantasies and Reflections on Self and Soul by Douglas Hofstadter
Co-edited with Daniel Dennett this anthology inclu more...0 points
Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas R. Hofstadter
The one that made the world aware of the genius of more...0 points
Le Ton Beau De Marot: In Praise of the Music of Language by Douglas R. Hofstadter
Hofstadter says this is a better book than Godel E more...0 points
Books about graphic Artist M C Escher
Strange loops abound in
M.C. Escher: Visions of Symmetry - Notebooks, Periodic Drawings and Related Work
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009) 
M.C. Escher: His Life and Complete Graphic Work (With a Fully Illustrated Catalogue)
Amazon Price: (as of 11/11/2009)
M.C. Escher : 29 Master prints
Amazon Price: $15.34 (as of 11/11/2009)
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Douglas Hofstadter's Home Page
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