Ebook: Problems in the Foundations of Physics
- Tags: Physics general
- Series: Studies in the Foundations Methodology and Philosophy of Science 4
- Year: 1971
- Publisher: Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
- Edition: 1
- Language: English
- pdf
This is a collection of technical papers in the foundations and the philoso It takes both "foundations" phy of physics with emphasis on the former. and "philosophy" in their narrow technical senses but it construes "physics" lato sensu, as including all the sciences of nonliving systems. All eleven papers constituting this volume were written for it. The problems tackled in this book concern certain basic concepts, hypotheses, theories, and research programmes in physical science. Some of these problems are topical, others new, but they are all fundamental and the subject of research and controversy. Consequently this volume is expected to serve those students, teachers and researchers who enjoy learning, teaching, discussing or doing theoretical physics. It is addressed to the nine to niners rather than to the nine to fivers. It is expected to attract the theoretician in search for new basic ideas, the teacher eager to perfect his understanding of physical theory and transmit his own zeal and his own doubts, as well as the student anxious to get down to essentials. This book may also interest the mathematician for whom physics offers a challenge (or a good pretext). Finally, it should get the attention of the philosopher of science aware of the advantages of philosophizing on foundations research problems rather than on the popularization of some results of research. There are at least two reasons for valuing foundations research.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VII
A Mathematical Theory of the Dimensions and Units of Physical Quantities....Pages 1-16
Reflections on Variational Principles and Invariance Theory....Pages 17-30
Galilei-and Lorentz-Invariant Particle Systems and their Conservation Laws....Pages 31-48
Foundations Problems in General Relativity....Pages 49-55
Geometry and Physics: A Global Approach....Pages 57-78
Probability in Quantum Mechanics and in Other Statistical Theories....Pages 79-92
The Localization Problem....Pages 93-110
Semantic Foundation of the Quantization Program....Pages 111-118
Algebraic Aspects of Formal Chemical Kinetics....Pages 119-129
Criteria for Meaning Changes in Theoretical Physics....Pages 131-144
The Relevance of Philosophy to Physics....Pages 145-162
Back Matter....Pages 163-165
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VII
A Mathematical Theory of the Dimensions and Units of Physical Quantities....Pages 1-16
Reflections on Variational Principles and Invariance Theory....Pages 17-30
Galilei-and Lorentz-Invariant Particle Systems and their Conservation Laws....Pages 31-48
Foundations Problems in General Relativity....Pages 49-55
Geometry and Physics: A Global Approach....Pages 57-78
Probability in Quantum Mechanics and in Other Statistical Theories....Pages 79-92
The Localization Problem....Pages 93-110
Semantic Foundation of the Quantization Program....Pages 111-118
Algebraic Aspects of Formal Chemical Kinetics....Pages 119-129
Criteria for Meaning Changes in Theoretical Physics....Pages 131-144
The Relevance of Philosophy to Physics....Pages 145-162
Back Matter....Pages 163-165
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