The Mathematical Representation of Physical Reality
Springer International Publishing (Verlag)
978-3-031-21253-6 (ISBN)
This book deals with the rise of mathematics in physical sciences, beginning with Galileo and Newton and extending to the present day. The book is divided into two parts. The first part gives a brief history of how mathematics was introduced into physics-despite its "unreasonable effectiveness" as famously pointed out by a distinguished physicist-and the criticisms it received from earlier thinkers. The second part takes a more philosophical approach and is intended to shed some light on that mysterious effectiveness. For this purpose, the author reviews the debate between classical philosophers on the existence of innate ideas that allow us to understand the world and also the philosophically based arguments for and against the use of mathematics in physical sciences. In this context, Schopenhauer's conceptions of causality and matter are very pertinent, and their validity is revisited in light of modern physics. The final question addressed is whether the effectiveness of mathematics can be explained by its "existence" in an independent platonic realm, as Gödel believed.
The book aims at readers interested in the history and philosophy of physics. It is accessible to those with only a very basic (not professional) knowledge of physics.
lt;p>Shahen Hacyan studied Physics (1965-1968) at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and obtained a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics in 1972 at the University of Sussex, UK. After returning to Mexico, he took up a position at the Institute of Astronomy, at UNAM. His fields of interest at that time were Relativistic Astrophysics, General Relativity and Cosmology. In 1990, he moved to the Institute of Physics, also at UNAM, and worked on Quantum Field Theory and Quantum Optics, as well as delving into philosophical aspects of Physics. Prof. Hacyan is currently Investigador Titular C (equivalent to Full Professor) at UNAM.
Introduction.- 1.Classical Period.- 2.Enlightenment.- 3.Electricity and Magnetism.- 4.Modern Physics: Relativity.- 5.Modern Physics: Quantum Mechanics.- 6.Quantum paradoxes.- 7.Quantum Mechanics and Relativity.- 8.Other (Mathematical) Worlds.- 9.Cosmology.- 10.For Mathematics.- 11.Against Mathematics.- 12.Programs of the Mind.- 13.Geometry a priori.- 14.Causality, Sufficient Reason and Determinism.- 15.Matter and Causality.- 16.Mathematics and Reality.- 17.Conclusions: Pythagoras'Dream.
| Erscheinungsdatum | 08.03.2023 |
|---|---|
| Reihe/Serie | The Frontiers Collection |
| Zusatzinfo | XIII, 155 p. 2 illus. |
| Verlagsort | Cham |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 155 x 235 mm |
| Gewicht | 384 g |
| Themenwelt | Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie ► Allgemeines / Lexika |
| Schlagworte | classical mechanics • Classical Philosophy • History of physics • mathematics in physics • physics as mathematical representation • quantum mechanics • relativity theory |
| ISBN-10 | 3-031-21253-3 / 3031212533 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-3-031-21253-6 / 9783031212536 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
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