From Nature and Beauty Mathematics, Physics, and the Structure of Human Civilization

What is the relationship between mathematics, physics, and the structure of human civilization?

In this book, Keying Guan presents a reflective and original exploration of fundamental questions at the intersection of mathematical structure and physical reality. Drawing on decades of research in differential geometry, dynamical systems, and mathematical physics, the author develops a unified perspective on the equivalence of physical quantities and their deeper implications.

At the heart of this work is an attempt to rethink how fundamental concepts—such as energy, force, and power—are understood and connected. Rather than treating them as isolated quantities, the book explores their intrinsic relationships and proposes a coherent framework that may offer new ways to interpret both classical and modern physics.

Beyond technical discussions, the book also reflects on the broader role of mathematics and physics in shaping human knowledge. It considers how abstract structures arise from our interaction with the natural world, and how they, in turn, influence the development of scientific thought and civilization itself.

Keying Guan is a former professor of applied mathematics with a long-standing academic career in differential geometry, dynamical systems, and mathematical physics.

He received his Ph.D. in 1984 from the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, where his doctoral defense was chaired by the renowned physicist Peng Huanwu. He later served as a professor and department chair at Beihang University, and subsequently at Beijing Jiaotong University.

In recent years, his research has focused on foundational questions in physics, including the equivalence of physical quantities and the energetic interpretation of force. His work seeks to bridge mathematical structure and physical insight, offering new perspectives on long-standing problems.

This book represents a continuation of his independent exploration into the deep connections between mathematics, physics, and the structure of human understanding.