Physics and Philosophy: Selected EssaysThis book is intended for people interested in physics and its philosophy. for those who regard physics as an essential component of modern culture rather than merely a tool for industry or war. Indeed this volume is addressed to those students, teachers and research workers who enjoy learning, teaching or doing physics, and are in the habit of pausing once in a while to ponder over key physical concepts and hypotheses and to wonder whether received theories are as perfect as textbooks would have us believe and, if not, how they might be improved. Henry Margenau, recently retired from Yale University as Eugene Higgins Professor of Physics and Philosophy, is the most important philosopher of physics of his generation, and indeed one of the most eminent philosophers of science of our century. He introduced and elucidated the notion of the correspondence rule. He claimed and showed, in the heyday of positivism, that physics has metaphysical presuppositions. He was the first to realize that quantum mechanics can do without von Neumann's projection postulat- and that was as far back as 1936. He clarified the physics and the philosophy of Pauli's exclusion principle at a time when it seemed mysterious. He was the first physicist to publish a philosophical paper in a physics journal, which he did as early as 1941. He was also one of the rare scientists who proclaimed the need for a scientific approach to value theory and ethics. |
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Contents
Western Culture Scientific Method and the Problem | 225 |
Physical versus Historical Reality | 241 |
The New View of Man in His Physical Environment 165 | 265 |
Science and Human Affairs | 283 |
The New Style of Science | 295 |
Phenomenology and Physics | 317 |
Physics and Ontology | 329 |
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Common terms and phrases
abstract aggregate analysis applied atomic behavior called causality classical physics complete concepts constructs correlation defined definition discovery domain electron elements empirical energy entities equations ethics example existence experience fact field force formal frequency function Hence human instance intuition involves knowledge laws logical man’s mass mathematical matter meaning measurement metaphysical method methodology modern physics motion Newton’s object observations ontology operator P-plane pair production particles perceptions phenomenology philosophic Philosophy of Science photon Phys physical explanation physical reality physical theory physicist possible postulate prediction present principle principle of relativity probability problem procedure properties propositions quantities quantum mechanics quantum theory question reason reference regard relation relativity religion requirements result rules of correspondence scientific scientist sensed nature significance space specific Spectral Lines symbols theoretical theory of relativity tion true truth uncertainty principle universe V-function validity variables verified word world line
Bibliographic information
| Title | Physics and Philosophy: Selected Essays |
| Author | H. Margenau |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | Springer Science & Business Media, 2012 |
| ISBN | 9400998457, 9789400998452 |
| Length | 405 pages |
| Subjects | › Philosophy / General Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |