The Tests of Time (eBook)

Readings in the Development of Physical Theory

Lisa M. Dolling, Arthur F. Gianelli, Glenn N. Statile (Herausgeber)

eBook Download: EPUB

2017
760 Seiten
Princeton University Press (Verlag)
978-1-4008-8916-7 (ISBN)

Infos

The development of physical theory is one of our greatest intellectual achievements. Its products--the currently prevailing theories of physics, astronomy, and cosmology--have proved themselves to possess intrinsic beauty and to have enormous explanatory and predictive power. This anthology of primary readings chronicles the birth and maturation of five such theories (the heliocentric theory, the electromagnetic field theory, special and general relativity, quantum theory, and the big bang theory) in the words of the scientists who brought them to life. It is the first historical account that captures the rich substance of these theories, each of which represents a fascinating story of the interplay of evidence and insight--and of dialogue among great minds. Readers sit in with Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo as they overturn the geocentric universe; observe the genius of Faraday and Maxwell as they "e;discover"e; the electromagnetic field; look over Einstein's shoulder as he works out the details of relativity; listen in as Einstein and Bohr argue for the soul of quantum mechanics in the Completeness Debate; and watch as Hubble and others reveal the history of the universe. The editors' approach highlights the moments of discovery that rise from scientific creativity, and the presentation humanizes the scientific process, revealing the extent to which great scientists were the first to consider the philosophical implications of their work. But, most significantly, the editors offer this as their central thesis: although each was ushered in by a revolution, and each contains counterintuitive elements that delayed its acceptance, these five theories exhibit a continuous rational development that has led them to a permanent place in the worldview of science. Accessible to the general reader yet sufficiently substantive that working scientists will find value in it, The Tests of Time offers an intimate look into how physical theory has been developed, by the brilliant people who have developed it.

Autor

Lisa M. Dolling, Arthur F. Gianelli, and Glenn N. Statile teach the history and philosophy of science on both the graduate and undergraduate levels at St. John's University. Arthur Gianelli is Chair of the Philosophy Department and the coeditor of The Metaphysical Quest. Lisa Dolling has written and lectured on the philosophy of Niels Bohr and directs the Science and Religion project at St. John's. Glenn Statile has lectured and written on topics in cosmology and the philosophy of science.

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 25.9.2017
• Zusatzinfo: 70 line illus.
• Verlagsort: Princeton
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Angewandte Physik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Plasmaphysik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Thermodynamik
• Schlagworte: Absolute time and space • acceleration • action at a distance • Approximation • Aristarchus (crater) • Astronomer • Astronomical Object • Astronomy • Big Bang • Calculation • Causality • celestial sphere • Chronology of the universe • Circular motion • circumference • classical electromagnetism • classical mechanics • coordinate system • cosmological constant • Coulomb's Law • David Bohm • earth • Elasticity (physics) • electric charge • electric current • electricity • Electromagnetic field • Electromagnetic radiation • electromagnetism • Equivalence Principle • exoplanet • Explanation • four-dimensional space • Galileo Galilei • General relativity • Gravitational Field • Gravity • Heinrich Hertz • heliocentrism • Huygens (spacecraft) • hypothesis • inference • Inflation (cosmology) • Instant • James Clerk Maxwell • Johannes Kepler • light • Louis de Broglie • Luminiferous aether • magnetism • magnetization • Mass • mathematician • Mathematics • Maxwell's equations • Measurement • Modern Physics • Molecule • Nebula • Newton's law of universal gravitation • Newton's laws of motion • Niels Bohr • Optics • Orbit • Particle physics • Paul Dirac • philosophy of science • Photon • Physical law • physicist • Planetary System • Prediction • Princeton University Press • Probability • Proportionality (mathematics) • Proportion (architecture) • Quantity • quantum mechanics • Ray (optics) • refraction • relative velocity • Science • Scientist • Simultaneity • Special relativity • Speed of Light • Stellar parallax • Suggestion • Temperature • theoretical physics • theory • Theory of relativity • Uncertainty Principle • Universe • Vacuum • Velocity • Vibration • Wave • wave equation • Wavelength
• ISBN-10: 1-4008-8916-2 / 1400889162
• ISBN-13: 978-1-4008-8916-7 / 9781400889167