From Physics to Philosophy

ISBN-13: 9780521660259 / Angielski / Twarda / 1999 / 252 str.

Constantine Pagonis; Jeremy Butterfield

Opis

This collection of essays by leading philosophers of physics offers philosophical perspectives on two central elements of modern physics, quantum theory and relativity. The topics examined include the notorious "measurement problem" of quantum theory and the attempts to solve it by attributing extra values to physical quantities, the mysterious non-locality of quantum theory, and the philosophical aspects of the search for a theory of quantum gravity. Together the essays represent some of the most recent research in philosophy of physics, and break new ground within the philosophy of quantum theory.

Recenzje

Review of the hardback: '… the book provides a truly valuable collection of essays … it is an ideal work for anyone who wishes to get a view of the variety and status of topics currently debated in the philosophy of physics, and I fully recommend it.' The Philosophical Quarterly

Spis treści

Introduction Jeremy Butterfield and Constantine Pagonis; 1. Locality and the Hardy Theorem Arthur Fine; 2. Beables in algebraic quantum theory Rob Clifton; 3. Aspects of objectivity in quantum mechanics Harvey Brown; 4. The beables of relativistic pilot-wave theory Simon Saunders; 5. Bohemian mechanics and chaos James Cushing and Gary Bowman; 6. Strange positions Gordon Fleming and Jeremy Butterfield; 7. From metaphysics to physics Gordon Belot and John Earman; 8. Models and mathematics in physics: the role of group theory Steven French; 9. Can the fundamental laws of nature be the results of evolution? Abner Shimony.