Ebook: Laws of Nature
- Tags: Philosophy of Science, Mathematical Logic and Foundations, Quantum Physics, Popular Science in Mathematics/Computer Science/Natural Science/Technology
- Year: 2005
- Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
The book is concerned with the laws of nature and in particular with the laws of physics. The authors discuss three important questions: First, whether the observed regularities are based on strict "laws of nature" that hold rigorously and without any exception. Second, what we call a "law of nature" is studied by comparing this concept with invariance principles, causality principles, teleological principles and means of predicting future events. Finally, on the basis of these investigations the authors treat the ambitious and intricate third question, why the laws of nature hold. Are there rational reasons for this largely unexplained phenomenon? This book addresses students as well as researchers. It will be an excellent reference for those interested in the philosophical foundations of the natural sciences.
The book is concerned with the laws of nature and in particular with the laws of physics. The authors discuss three important questions: First, whether the observed regularities are based on strict "laws of nature" that hold rigorously and without any exception. Second, what we call a "law of nature" is studied by comparing this concept with invariance principles, causality principles, teleological principles and means of predicting future events. Finally, on the basis of these investigations the authors treat the ambitious and intricate third question, why the laws of nature hold. Are there rational reasons for this largely unexplained phenomenon? This book addresses students as well as researchers. It will be an excellent reference for those interested in the philosophical foundations of the natural sciences.
The book is concerned with the laws of nature and in particular with the laws of physics. The authors discuss three important questions: First, whether the observed regularities are based on strict "laws of nature" that hold rigorously and without any exception. Second, what we call a "law of nature" is studied by comparing this concept with invariance principles, causality principles, teleological principles and means of predicting future events. Finally, on the basis of these investigations the authors treat the ambitious and intricate third question, why the laws of nature hold. Are there rational reasons for this largely unexplained phenomenon? This book addresses students as well as researchers. It will be an excellent reference for those interested in the philosophical foundations of the natural sciences.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XII
Are there Laws of Nature at All?....Pages 5-12
Can the Laws of Nature be Genuine Laws?....Pages 13-26
Are the Laws of Logic Laws of Nature?....Pages 27-47
Are the Laws of Mathematics Laws of Nature?....Pages 49-62
Does Every Law of Nature Express an Invariance (Symmetry)?....Pages 65-93
Is Every Law of Nature Spacetime Invariant?....Pages 95-140
Dynamical and Statistical Laws....Pages 141-173
Laws, Boundary Conditions, and Constants of Nature....Pages 175-198
Causality and Predictability....Pages 199-264
Laws and Objects....Pages 265-279
Completeness and Reliability....Pages 281-306
Statistical Laws....Pages 309-328
Quantum Logic....Pages 329-346
Introduction....Pages 1-2
Back Matter....Pages 347-376
The book is concerned with the laws of nature and in particular with the laws of physics. The authors discuss three important questions: First, whether the observed regularities are based on strict "laws of nature" that hold rigorously and without any exception. Second, what we call a "law of nature" is studied by comparing this concept with invariance principles, causality principles, teleological principles and means of predicting future events. Finally, on the basis of these investigations the authors treat the ambitious and intricate third question, why the laws of nature hold. Are there rational reasons for this largely unexplained phenomenon? This book addresses students as well as researchers. It will be an excellent reference for those interested in the philosophical foundations of the natural sciences.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-XII
Are there Laws of Nature at All?....Pages 5-12
Can the Laws of Nature be Genuine Laws?....Pages 13-26
Are the Laws of Logic Laws of Nature?....Pages 27-47
Are the Laws of Mathematics Laws of Nature?....Pages 49-62
Does Every Law of Nature Express an Invariance (Symmetry)?....Pages 65-93
Is Every Law of Nature Spacetime Invariant?....Pages 95-140
Dynamical and Statistical Laws....Pages 141-173
Laws, Boundary Conditions, and Constants of Nature....Pages 175-198
Causality and Predictability....Pages 199-264
Laws and Objects....Pages 265-279
Completeness and Reliability....Pages 281-306
Statistical Laws....Pages 309-328
Quantum Logic....Pages 329-346
Introduction....Pages 1-2
Back Matter....Pages 347-376
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