Ebook: Philosophy, Mathematics and Modern Physics: A Dialogue

In recent times a new dialogue has begun between the natural sciences and the humanities. This is particularly true of physics and philosophy, whose sphere of mutual interest expanded significantly with the advent of quantum mechanics. Among other topics, the discussion covers the evolution of theories, the role of mathematics in the physical sciences, the perception and cognition of nature and definitions of space and time. In contrast to the custom of the last two centuries, mathematics - the language of physics - is once again finding a respected place in the discourse of philosophers. The interdisciplinary communication between philosophers, mathematicians and physicists will be given new impetus by the thoughtful and wide-ranging contributions to this book.

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In recent times a new dialogue has begun between the natural sciences and the humanities. This is particularly true of physics and philosophy, whose sphere of mutual interest expanded significantly with the advent of quantum mechanics. Among other topics, the discussion covers the evolution of theories, the role of mathematics in the physical sciences, the perception and cognition of nature and definitions of space and time. In contrast to the custom of the last two centuries, mathematics - the language of physics - is once again finding a respected place in the discourse of philosophers. The interdisciplinary communication between philosophers, mathematicians and physicists will be given new impetus by the thoughtful and wide-ranging contributions to this book.

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In recent times a new dialogue has begun between the natural sciences and the humanities. This is particularly true of physics and philosophy, whose sphere of mutual interest expanded significantly with the advent of quantum mechanics. Among other topics, the discussion covers the evolution of theories, the role of mathematics in the physical sciences, the perception and cognition of nature and definitions of space and time. In contrast to the custom of the last two centuries, mathematics - the language of physics - is once again finding a respected place in the discourse of philosophers. The interdisciplinary communication between philosophers, mathematicians and physicists will be given new impetus by the thoughtful and wide-ranging contributions to this book.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
On the Dialogue Between Physics and Philosophy....Pages 2-17
Questions Concerning Theory and Experience and the Role of Mathematics in Physical Science....Pages 18-31
Front Matter....Pages 33-33
Is Conscious Awareness Consistent with Space-Time Descriptions?....Pages 34-47
Space and Time: A Privileged Ground for Misunderstandings Between Physics and Philosophy....Pages 48-66
On Renormalization in Quantum Field Theory and the Structure of Space-Time....Pages 67-91
Quantum Theory — a Window to the World Beyond Physics....Pages 92-103
Quantum Cosmology and the Emergence of a Classical World....Pages 104-119
On the Origin of Structure in the Universe....Pages 120-131
Galaxy Creation in a Non-Big-Bang Universe....Pages 132-143
What Kind of Science is Cosmology?....Pages 144-167
Front Matter....Pages 169-169
On the Assumption That Our Concepts ‘Structure the Material of Our Experience’....Pages 170-185
On the Mathematical Overdetermination of Physics....Pages 186-199
The Mathematical Frame of Quantum Field Theory....Pages 200-204
The Role of Mathematics in Contemporary Theoretical Physics....Pages 205-212
A Most General Principle of Invariance....Pages 213-225
Kant and the Straight Biangle....Pages 226-234
Substance as Function: Ernst Cassirer’s Interpretation of Leibniz as Criticism of Kant....Pages 235-242
Back Matter....Pages 243-244

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In recent times a new dialogue has begun between the natural sciences and the humanities. This is particularly true of physics and philosophy, whose sphere of mutual interest expanded significantly with the advent of quantum mechanics. Among other topics, the discussion covers the evolution of theories, the role of mathematics in the physical sciences, the perception and cognition of nature and definitions of space and time. In contrast to the custom of the last two centuries, mathematics - the language of physics - is once again finding a respected place in the discourse of philosophers. The interdisciplinary communication between philosophers, mathematicians and physicists will be given new impetus by the thoughtful and wide-ranging contributions to this book.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages I-VIII
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
On the Dialogue Between Physics and Philosophy....Pages 2-17
Questions Concerning Theory and Experience and the Role of Mathematics in Physical Science....Pages 18-31
Front Matter....Pages 33-33
Is Conscious Awareness Consistent with Space-Time Descriptions?....Pages 34-47
Space and Time: A Privileged Ground for Misunderstandings Between Physics and Philosophy....Pages 48-66
On Renormalization in Quantum Field Theory and the Structure of Space-Time....Pages 67-91
Quantum Theory — a Window to the World Beyond Physics....Pages 92-103
Quantum Cosmology and the Emergence of a Classical World....Pages 104-119
On the Origin of Structure in the Universe....Pages 120-131
Galaxy Creation in a Non-Big-Bang Universe....Pages 132-143
What Kind of Science is Cosmology?....Pages 144-167
Front Matter....Pages 169-169
On the Assumption That Our Concepts ‘Structure the Material of Our Experience’....Pages 170-185
On the Mathematical Overdetermination of Physics....Pages 186-199
The Mathematical Frame of Quantum Field Theory....Pages 200-204
The Role of Mathematics in Contemporary Theoretical Physics....Pages 205-212
A Most General Principle of Invariance....Pages 213-225
Kant and the Straight Biangle....Pages 226-234
Substance as Function: Ernst Cassirer’s Interpretation of Leibniz as Criticism of Kant....Pages 235-242
Back Matter....Pages 243-244
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