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The Conceptual Foundations Of Contemporary Relativity Theory
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Book Synopsis The Conceptual Foundations of Contemporary Relativity Theory by : John Cowperthwaite Graves
Download or read book The Conceptual Foundations of Contemporary Relativity Theory written by John Cowperthwaite Graves and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The central conceptual idea of the contemporary theory of general relativity&-or geometrodynamics&-is the identification of matter with the structure of space-time. No entities foreign to space-time, like masses, charges, or independent fields are needed, and physics thus becomes identical with the geometry of space-time. This idea implies a philosophical description of the universe that is monistic and organic, characterized by an all-encompassing interdependence of events. Moreover, it is an idea with deep roots in the history of philosophy. For these reasons, the author of this important study strives to clarify these philosophical and historical issues before proceeding to the details of the physical theory of geometrodynamics. Graves develops a general philosophical framework of &"scientific realism,&" asserting that scientific theories have ontological import in determining the real structure of the world, and in particular that models play a central role as ontological hypotheses. He introduces two factors, the empiricist error and the logical errors that he feels have contributed to past misinterpretations of the nature of reality that were based on general relativity theory. The historic continuities that join the metaphysics of Plato and Descartes with the monistic, organic nature of geometrodynamics are contrasted with the latter's radical break with the Newtonian or atomistic worldview which is predicated on a basic separation between matter and space. The Newtonian independence and distinctness of objects is at the polar extreme from their Einsteinian interdependence and continuity. In discussing the physical principles of relativity, the author begins with a review of Einstein's original formulation (&"classical&" general relativity) and the significance of its basic assumptions and equations. He then presents the remarkable recent developments in geometrodynamics, which allow the program of identifying matter with space-time to be carried further than even Einstein suspected possible. The surprising discovery that electromagnetism can be incorporated into geometrodynamics without modifying Einstein's original equations appears to be formally correct, but reliance on multiply-connected topologies (&"wormholes&") to represent charge raises various unresolved questions. Graves concludes that the present language of physics, like that of everyday life, is based on concepts of independence and separation, and that a wholly new language may be needed to describe the world in terms of geometrodynamics, in which space-time appears as the only substance, with curvatures as its attributes, and in which objects have no absolute individuality, distinctness, or location.
Book Synopsis The Conceptual Foundations of Contemporary Relativity Theory by : John Cowperthwaite Graves
Download or read book The Conceptual Foundations of Contemporary Relativity Theory written by John Cowperthwaite Graves and published by Cambridge, Mass : M.I.T. Press. This book was released on 1971 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The central conceptual idea of the contemporary theory of general relativity--or geometrodynamics--is the identification of matter with the structure of space-time. No entities foreign to space-time, like masses, charges, or independent fields are needed, and physics thus becomes identical with the geometry of space-time. This idea implies a philosophical description of the universe that is monistic and organic, characterized by an all-encompassing interdependence of events. Moreover, it is an idea with deep roots in the history of philosophy. For these reasons, the author of this important study strives to clarify these philosophical and historical issues before proceeding to the details of the physical theory of geometrodynamics.
Book Synopsis Foundations of Space-Time Theories by : Michael Friedman
Download or read book Foundations of Space-Time Theories written by Michael Friedman and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2014-07-14 with total page 403 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book, explores the conceptual foundations of Einstein's theory of relativity: the fascinating, yet tangled, web of philosophical, mathematical, and physical ideas that is the source of the theory's enduring philosophical interest. Originally published in 1983. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
Book Synopsis Philosophy of Physics by : Tim Maudlin
Download or read book Philosophy of Physics written by Tim Maudlin and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2015-05-26 with total page 199 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Philosophical foundations of the physics of space-time This concise book introduces nonphysicists to the core philosophical issues surrounding the nature and structure of space and time, and is also an ideal resource for physicists interested in the conceptual foundations of space-time theory. Tim Maudlin's broad historical overview examines Aristotelian and Newtonian accounts of space and time, and traces how Galileo's conceptions of relativity and space-time led to Einstein's special and general theories of relativity. Maudlin explains special relativity with enough detail to solve concrete physical problems while presenting general relativity in more qualitative terms. Additional topics include the Twins Paradox, the physical aspects of the Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction, the constancy of the speed of light, time travel, the direction of time, and more. Introduces nonphysicists to the philosophical foundations of space-time theory Provides a broad historical overview, from Aristotle to Einstein Explains special relativity geometrically, emphasizing the intrinsic structure of space-time Covers the Twins Paradox, Galilean relativity, time travel, and more Requires only basic algebra and no formal knowledge of physics
Book Synopsis Topics in the Foundations of General Relativity and Newtonian Gravitation Theory by : David B. Malament
Download or read book Topics in the Foundations of General Relativity and Newtonian Gravitation Theory written by David B. Malament and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2012-04-02 with total page 363 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Topics in the Foundations of General Relativity and Newtonian Gravitation Theory, David B. Malament presents the basic logical-mathematical structure of general relativity and considers a number of special topics concerning the foundations of general relativity and its relation to Newtonian gravitation theory. These special topics include the geometrized formulation of Newtonian theory (also known as Newton-Cartan theory), the concept of rotation in general relativity, and Gödel spacetime. One of the highlights of the book is a no-go theorem that can be understood to show that there is no criterion of orbital rotation in general relativity that fully answers to our classical intuitions. Topics is intended for both students and researchers in mathematical physics and philosophy of science.
Book Synopsis The conceptual foundations of contemporary relativity theory by : John Cowperthwaite Graves
Download or read book The conceptual foundations of contemporary relativity theory written by John Cowperthwaite Graves and published by . This book was released on 1971 with total page 361 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Book Synopsis The Ashgate Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Physics by : Dean Rickles
Download or read book The Ashgate Companion to Contemporary Philosophy of Physics written by Dean Rickles and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-11-25 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Introducing the reader to the very latest developments in the philosophical foundations of physics, this book covers advanced material at a level suitable for beginner and intermediate students. A detailed overview is provided of the central debates in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, quantum computation, and quantum gravity. Each chapter consists of a 'state of the art' review written by a specialist in the field and introduces the reader to the relevant formal aspects along with the philosophical implications. These, and the various interpretive options, are developed in a self-contained, clear, and concise manner. Special care is given to situating the reader within the contemporary debates by providing numerous references and readings. This book thus enables both philosophers and physicists to engage with the most pressing problems in contemporary philosophy of physics in a fruitful way.
Book Synopsis Relativity: The Theory and Its Philosophy by : Roger B. Angel
Download or read book Relativity: The Theory and Its Philosophy written by Roger B. Angel and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2014-05-20 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Relativity: The Theory and its Philosophy provides a completely self-contained treatment of the philosophical foundations of the theory of relativity. It also surveys the most essential mathematical techniques and concepts that are indispensable to an understanding of the foundations of both the special and general theories of relativity. In short, the book includes a crash course in applied mathematics, ranging from elementary trigonometry to the classical tensor calculus. Comprised of 11 chapters, this book begins with an introduction to fundamental mathematical concepts such as sets, relations, and functions; N-tuples, vectors, and matrices; and vector algebra and calculus. The discussion then turns to the concept of relativity and elementary foundations of Newtonian mechanics, as well as the principle of special relativity and its interpretation by means of empiricism and rationalism. Subsequent chapters focus on the status of the doctrine of conventionalism in the theory of special relativity; the commensurability of classical and relativistic mechanics; mathematical foundations of special relativistic physics; and the classical or Newtonian theory of gravitation. The principle of general covariance and its relation to the principle of general relativity are also examined. The final chapter addresses the fundamental question as to the actual information concerning the structure of spacetime that is conveyed to us through the theory of general relativity. This monograph will be of interest to students, teachers, practitioners, and researchers in physics, mathematics, and philosophy.
Book Synopsis Philosophy of Physics by : David Wallace
Download or read book Philosophy of Physics written by David Wallace and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2021 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Philosophy of physics is concerned with the deepest theories of modern physics - quantum theory, our theories of space, time and symmetry, and thermal physics - and their strange, even bizarre conceptual implications. This book explores the core topics in philosophy of physics, and discusses their relevance for both scientists and philosophers.
Book Synopsis The Physical and Mathematical Foundations of the Theory of Relativity by : Antonio Romano
Download or read book The Physical and Mathematical Foundations of the Theory of Relativity written by Antonio Romano and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2019-09-25 with total page 499 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This unique textbook offers a mathematically rigorous presentation of the theory of relativity, emphasizing the need for a critical analysis of the foundations of general relativity in order to best study the theory and its implications. The transitions from classical mechanics to special relativity and then to general relativity are explored in detail as well, helping readers to gain a more profound and nuanced understanding of the theory as a whole. After reviewing the fundamentals of differential geometry and classical mechanics, the text introduces special relativity, first using the physical approach proposed by Einstein and then via Minkowski’s mathematical model. The authors then address the relativistic thermodynamics of continua and electromagnetic fields in matter – topics which are normally covered only very briefly in other treatments – in the next two chapters. The text then turns to a discussion of general relativity by means of the authors’ unique critical approach, underlining the difficulty of recognizing the physical meaning of some statements, such as the physical meaning of coordinates and the derivation of physical quantities from those of space-time. Chapters in this section cover the model of space-time proposed by Schwarzschild; black holes; the Friedman equations and the different cosmological models they describe; and the Fermi-Walker derivative. Well-suited for graduate students in physics and mathematics who have a strong foundation in real analysis, classical mechanics, and general physics, this textbook is appropriate for a variety of graduate-level courses that cover topics in relativity. Additionally, it will interest physicists and other researchers who wish to further study the subtleties of these theories and understand the contemporary scholarly discussions surrounding them.
Book Synopsis The Expanding Universe by : William D. Heacox
Download or read book The Expanding Universe written by William D. Heacox and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2015-11-26 with total page 293 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Cosmology - the science of the Universe at large - has experienced a renaissance in the decades bracketing the turn of the twenty-first century. Exploring our emerging understanding of cosmology, this text takes two complementary points of view: the physical principles underlying theories of cosmology, and the observable consequences of models of Universal expansion. The book develops cosmological models based on fundamental physical principles, with mathematics limited to the minimum necessary to keep the material accessible for students of physics and astronomy at the advanced undergraduate level. A substantial review of general relativity leading up to the Einstein field equations is included, with derivations of explicit formulations connecting observable features of the Universe to models of its expansion. Self-contained and up to date in respect of modern observations, the text provides a solid theoretical grounding in modern cosmology while preparing readers for the changes that will inevitably come from future observations.
Book Synopsis Hans Reichenbach: Logical Empiricist by : M.H. Salmon
Download or read book Hans Reichenbach: Logical Empiricist written by M.H. Salmon and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 795 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Logical empiricism - not to be confused with logical positivism (see pp. 40-44) - is a movement which has left an indelible mark on twentieth century philosophy; Hans Reichenbach (1891-1953) was one of its found ers and one of its most productive advocates. His sudden and untimely death in 1953 halted his work when he was at the height of his intellectual powers; nevertheless, he bequeathed to us a handsome philosophical inheritance. At the present time, twenty-five years later, we can survey our heritage and see to what extent we have been enriched. The present collection of essays constitutes an effort to do just that - to exhibit the scope and unity of Reichenbach's philosophy, and its relevance to current philosophical issues. There is no Nobel Prize in philosophy - the closest analogue is a volume in The Library of Living Philosophers, an honor which, like the Nobel Prize, cannot be awarded posthumously. Among 'scientific philosophers,' Rudolf Carnap, Albert Einstein, Karl Popper, and Bertrand Russell have been so honored. Had Reichenbach lived longer, he would have shared the honor with Carnap, for at the time of his death a volume on Logical Empiricism, treating the works of Carnap and Reichenbach, was in its early stages of preparation. In the volume which emerged, Carnap wrote, "In 1953, when Reichenbach's creative activity was suddenly ended by his premature death, our movement lost one of its most active leaders.
Book Synopsis The Immunologic Revolution by : Andor Szentivanyi
Download or read book The Immunologic Revolution written by Andor Szentivanyi and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1993-10-25 with total page 436 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This unique volume contains reviews by some of the most prominent immunologists in the world. The authors present vital facts for each of their areas of expertise and provide individual perspectives on how their own contributions were developed and how these contributions influenced general immunological thinking and development. This impressive collection of personal reviews by these internationally renowned immunologists makes The Immunologic Revolution an important and lasting contribution to the entire biomedical community.
Book Synopsis The Question of Reality by : Milton K. Munitz
Download or read book The Question of Reality written by Milton K. Munitz and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-12-08 with total page 223 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When we read that scientists have come close to pinpointing the "origin of the universe" by means of a Big Bang cosmology, or are engaged in formulating a "theory of everything," as in current ten-dimensional superstring theories of particle physics, can we doubt that such inquiries or their results inevitably raise important philosophical questions? In the present book, as well as in his previous work Cosmic Understanding, the renowned philosopher Milton Munitz attempts to answer some of these questions by examining recent scientific theories of cosmology in a philosophical context.
Book Synopsis What Spacetime Explains by : Graham Nerlich
Download or read book What Spacetime Explains written by Graham Nerlich and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1994-08-04 with total page 299 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Eleven of Graham Nerlich's essays are here brought together dealing with ontology and methodology in relativity; variable curvature and general relativity; and time and causation.
Book Synopsis The Ecological Self by : Freya Mathews
Download or read book The Ecological Self written by Freya Mathews and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2021-05-16 with total page 183 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Environmental disasters, from wildfires and vanishing species to flooding and drought, have increased dramatically in recent years and debates about the environment are rarely far from the headlines. There is growing awareness that these disasters are connected – indeed, that in the fabric of nature everything is interconnected. However, until the publication of Freya Mathews' The Ecological Self, there had been remarkably few attempts to provide a conceptual foundation for such interconnectedness that brought together philosophy and science. In this acclaimed book, Mathews skilfully weaves together a thought-provoking metaphysics of the environment. She connects the ideas of the seventeenth-century philosopher Spinoza with twentieth-century systems theory and Einstein’s physics to argue that the atomistic cosmology inherited from Newton gave credence to a picture of the universe as fragmented, rather than as whole. Furthermore, it is such faulty thinking that presents human beings as similarly disconnected and individualistic, with the dire consequence that they regard nature as of purely instrumental rather than intrinsic value. She concludes by arguing for an ethics of ecological interdependence and for a basic egalitarianism among living species. A compelling and fascinating account of how we must change our thinking about the environment, The Ecological Self is a classic of ecological and environmental thinking. This Routledge Classics edition includes a substantial new Introduction by the author.
Book Synopsis Proceedings of the 1972 Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association by : K. Schaffner
Download or read book Proceedings of the 1972 Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association written by K. Schaffner and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 519 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book contains selected papers from symposia and contributed sessions presented at the third biennial meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association, held in Lansing, Michigan, on October 27-29, 1972. We are grateful to Michigan State University, and especially to Professor Peter Asquith and his students and colleagues, for their friendly and efficient hospitality in organizing the circumstances of the sessions and of the 'intersessions', the unscheduled free time which is so important to any scholarly gathering. Several of the symposium papers have unhappily not been made available: those of Alasdair MacIntyre and Sidney Morgenbesser in the session on the social sciences, that of Ian Hacking in the session on randomness and that of Imre Lakatos in the session on discovery and rationality in science. Department of History and KENNETH F. SCHAFFNER Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh Center for the Philosophy and ROBERT S. COHEN History of Science, Boston University TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE v PART I/SYMPOSIUM: SPACE, TIME AND MATTER: THE FOUNDATIONS OF GEOMETRODYNAMICS ADOLF GRUNBAUM / Space, Time, and Matter: The Foundations of Geometrodynamics. Introductory Remarks 3 CHARLES W. MISNER / Some Topics for Philosophical Inquiry Concerning the Theories of Mathematical Geometrodynamics and of Physical Geometrodynamics 7 JOHN STACHEL / The Rise and Fall of Geometrodynamics 31 PART II / PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS OF BIOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY STUART KAUFFMAN / Elsasser, Generalized Complementarity, and Finite Classes: A Critique of His Anti-Reductionism 57 WILLIAM C.
