Book Review — The Beginning of Infinity by David Deutsch

“The Beginning of Infinity: Explanations that Transform the World” by David Deutsch is an exploration of knowledge, science, and human potential. Published in 2012, this 450-page book isn’t just about science, it’s also about how we understand the world and our role in it. Deutsch, a physicist at the University of Oxford, argues that human progress has no limits because our quest for better explanations is infinite.

The book starts off strong, introducing a powerful idea: progress happens because we constantly search for better explanations. According to Deutsch, there is no end to this process, so the future holds endless possibilities. His optimism is contagious. He writes, “Problems are inevitable, but so are solutions.” I find myself going back to the parable of the prisioner who convinces the king to stay his execution for a year so he could make the King’s horse talk. It’s a masterstroke in not letting the assumption that a solution does not exist at the moment snuff out our hopes.

The first chapter is especially engaging. Deutsch dives into the philosophy of science with a boldness that’s rare. He doesn’t just share his ideas, he confidently challenges others. He praises the philosopher Karl Popper and then dismisses nearly everyone else, arguing that most scientists don’t fully understand their own work because they lack philosophical insight. It’s a bold stance that sets the tone for the rest of the book.

But as the book goes on, this boldness becomes a double-edged sword. Deutsch’s habit of rejecting other viewpoints starts to feel less like confidence and more like stubbornness. He dismisses the entire field of epistemology (the study of knowledge) by simply declaring it pointless. Instead, he suggests that explanations are true because they are useful. Since science gives us more useful theories over time, he argues, there must be an objective truth. This is an interesting idea, but his reasoning feels incomplete. It’s like he’s trying to skip the hard questions.

His chapter on beauty is another example. Deutsch argues that objective beauty exists and that history moves toward it, just like science moves toward truth. He claims that our tastes evolve toward this ideal of beauty, and even suggests that Beethoven’s music is closer to this objective beauty than anything before it. But by his logic, shouldn’t more recent music — maybe even electronic music or hip-hop or afrobeat featuring our own Portable — be closer to this ideal? He never fully addresses this contradiction, making his argument feel shaky.

Deutsch is good at explaining complex ideas, but his writing is not always easy to follow. The book often wanders into loosely connected discussions, making it hard to see how everything ties together. For example, his chapter on multiverses offers one of the clearest explanations of the concept I’ve ever read. But it feels oddly disconnected from his main argument about explanations. It’s fascinating on its own but leaves you wondering how it fits into the bigger picture.

The book is also quite dense. Deutsch’s writing is packed with philosophical jargon, which can be challenging, especially if you’re not familiar with the topics. This isn’t a light read. It’s the kind of book that requires you to pause, think, and even reread sections to fully understand his arguments.

One of the more surprising ideas in the book is Deutsch’s argument that superhuman general intelligence (the idea of AI becoming smarter than humans) is impossible. He claims that because humans are “universal Turing machines,” no AI could ever surpass us. It’s a bold statement that feels out of step with the rapid advancements in AI we see today.

Another quirky and controversial claim is his belief that extraterrestrial civilizations don’t exist because if they did, we would already know about them. In an age fascinated by the search for alien life, this certainty feels almost quaint.

The Beginning of Infinity is a challenging but rewarding read. It starts strong, offering a unique and optimistic view of human progress. But it loses momentum as Deutsch’s boldness turns into stubbornness, and his arguments become repetitive. His habit of rejecting other viewpoints — any viewpoint that is not Karl Popper’s — without fully addressing their merits can feel frustrating.

I understand that many smart people, especially in Silicon Valley, praise this book. Perhaps it’s because it’s filled with thought-provoking ideas especially about optimism and Deutsch’s willingness to tackle big questions. Then I understand why they fnd it easy to forgive its flaws.