An Introduction to the Philosophy of Physics
Locality, Fields, Energy, and Mass
1. Auflage Mai 2002
344 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-0-631-22501-0
John Wiley & Sons
This book combines physics, philosophy, and history in a radical new approach to introducing the philosophy of physics. It leads the reader through several central problems in the philosophy of physics by tracing their connections to a single issue: whether a cause must be spatiotemporally local to its effect, or whether action at a distance can occur
Introduction.
1. What Is Spatiotemporal Locality?.
2. Fields to the Rescue?.
3. Dispositions and Causes.
4. Locality and Scientific Explanation.
5. Fields, Energy, and Momentum.
6. Is There Nothing But Fields?.
7. Relativity and the Unification of Electricity and
Magnetism.
8. Relativity, Energy, Mass, and the Reality of Fields.
9. Quantum Metaphysics.
Final Exam.
References.
Index.
1. What Is Spatiotemporal Locality?.
2. Fields to the Rescue?.
3. Dispositions and Causes.
4. Locality and Scientific Explanation.
5. Fields, Energy, and Momentum.
6. Is There Nothing But Fields?.
7. Relativity and the Unification of Electricity and
Magnetism.
8. Relativity, Energy, Mass, and the Reality of Fields.
9. Quantum Metaphysics.
Final Exam.
References.
Index.
"Marc Lange uses the philosophical tools of traditional metaphysics
to analyze examples drawn from electromagnetic theory and quantum
mechanics and in turn uses these examples to refine some of the
basic concepts of traditional metaphysics. The result is an
excellent introduction to the best sort of metaphysics, the sort
that is informed by our best physical theories." Jeffrey
Barrett, University of California, Irvine
"This is philosophy of physics that meets even Feynman's
challenge of making a difference for physics while it attains
Hempel's standards of clarity. I can hardly imagine teaching the
philosophy of physics, at any level, from introductory to graduate
seminar, without using this book!" Alex Rosenberg, Duke
University
"Eschewing the technical jargon of philosophy of science, though
he is a fluent contributor to journals and refers to current issues
in appropriate notes, Lange employs a breezy, common language
style, complete with discussion questions suitable for an
undergraduate introductory class. [...] Highly recommended to
philosphically inexperienced physicists as well as current students
in philosophy of science. Lower-division undergraduates through
faculty." P.D. Skiff, Bard College, Choice, January
2003
"An accomplished philosopher of science, Lange introduces the
epistemological consequences of a central idea in physics -
locality ... Eschewing the technical jargon of philosophy of
science, though he is a fluent contributor to journals and feres to
current issues in appropriate notes, Lange employs a breezy, commom
language style, complete with discussion questions suitable for an
undergraduate introductory class ... his introduction to the issues
via concrete example is very effective and unique. Highly
recommended to philosophically inexperienced physicists as well as
current students in philosophy of science." Choice
to analyze examples drawn from electromagnetic theory and quantum
mechanics and in turn uses these examples to refine some of the
basic concepts of traditional metaphysics. The result is an
excellent introduction to the best sort of metaphysics, the sort
that is informed by our best physical theories." Jeffrey
Barrett, University of California, Irvine
"This is philosophy of physics that meets even Feynman's
challenge of making a difference for physics while it attains
Hempel's standards of clarity. I can hardly imagine teaching the
philosophy of physics, at any level, from introductory to graduate
seminar, without using this book!" Alex Rosenberg, Duke
University
"Eschewing the technical jargon of philosophy of science, though
he is a fluent contributor to journals and refers to current issues
in appropriate notes, Lange employs a breezy, common language
style, complete with discussion questions suitable for an
undergraduate introductory class. [...] Highly recommended to
philosphically inexperienced physicists as well as current students
in philosophy of science. Lower-division undergraduates through
faculty." P.D. Skiff, Bard College, Choice, January
2003
"An accomplished philosopher of science, Lange introduces the
epistemological consequences of a central idea in physics -
locality ... Eschewing the technical jargon of philosophy of
science, though he is a fluent contributor to journals and feres to
current issues in appropriate notes, Lange employs a breezy, commom
language style, complete with discussion questions suitable for an
undergraduate introductory class ... his introduction to the issues
via concrete example is very effective and unique. Highly
recommended to philosophically inexperienced physicists as well as
current students in philosophy of science." Choice
Marc Lange is Professor of Philosophy at the University
of Washington. He is author of Natural Laws in Scientific
Practice (2000).
of Washington. He is author of Natural Laws in Scientific
Practice (2000).