This is a different book because its author is different and because its idea arose in a different circumstance as well.
Eddington, the famous astronomer, mathematician, and physicist, was the first to prove Einstein's theory of general relativity, the first to write about it in English. Einstein himself praised him when he said that what he wrote was the most accurate thing written about relativity in any language. He contributed to the development of non-Euclidean geometry, which helped greatly in providing a valid geometry for understanding the world in light of the theory of relativity itself. He did not stop there, but he had many of his own studies on the origin, development, movement, and structure of stars. He was also one of the first enthusiasts of quantum theory.
This is one side. As for the other side, Eddington was a deeply religious believer, a member of a Protestant religious group, and a eloquent speaker capable of conveying the most complex ideas. It seems that the book in our hands is the product of intense ideas that were working in his head. The first eleven chapters were purely scientific, trying to explain and interpret the most important theories of science. The discussion and the repercussions of the theories of relativity and quantum theory. The last four chapters are philosophical, metaphysical, and sometimes even mystical, trying to answer the major questions in light of the standards and trends of these modern theories.
As we noted, the idea for this book arose in a different circumstance; In the beginning, they were lectures given as part of the Gifford Lectures, which are a group of annual lectures, which are considered one of the most important and honorable events held by the Scottish Academy. These lectures were given in several Scottish universities, and their main topic is natural theology, as it is concerned with establishing the existence of God based on logical reasoning and experience. Ordinary in nature.
In this book we find a strong devotion to science and an insightful vision into its philosophy. We also find a confused person who wants to benefit from everything he knows in order to answer major questions that have always troubled him.