The Science Of Lay Theories

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The Science of Lay Theories

Author : Claire M. Zedelius
Publisher : Springer
ISBN 13 : 3319573063
Total Pages : 382 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (195 download)

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Book Synopsis The Science of Lay Theories by : Claire M. Zedelius

Download or read book The Science of Lay Theories written by Claire M. Zedelius and published by Springer. This book was released on 2017-07-14 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This timely and important collection broadens our understanding of the ways in which lay theories (also known as folk psychologies, implicit theories, naïve theories, or mindsets) impact our lives and social relations. Moving well beyond lay theories as applied to intelligence and achievement, this volume considers lay theories in an admirably wide context, including perspectives on prejudice, creativity, self-regulation, health, free will, justice, magic, religion and more. Eminent and emerging scholars alike provide a comprehensive overview that presents and synthesizes cutting edge contemporary research on lay theories, spanning social, cognitive, developmental, cultural, and clinical psychology. Structurally, this volume is organized in three parts. Beginning with a preface by renowned scholar Carol Dweck, the first part looks at the origins and nature of lay theories, and how malleable they are. The second part explores lay theories about common psychological phenomena. The third section discusses lay theories about the metaphysical or supernatural. Finally, the last section explores the important question of how lay theories impact health and health behavior. Taken together, the chapters provide an integrative survey of the science of lay theories, bringing together many perspectives that previously have been studied largely in isolation. This volume is more than the sum of its parts—perspectives from different strands of research provide insights that cut across research disciplines, making novel connections and prompting new directions for this field of study. Shedding light on how our beliefs shape all facets of our lives, The Science of Lay Theories: How Beliefs Shape Our Cognition, Behavior, and Health will appeal to researchers and practitioners in psychology, as well as philosophers, cognitive and developmental neuroscientists, religious scholars, sociologists, and anthropologists. It is very rare to say of an edited volume of scholarly chapters “I couldn’t put it down!” Yet that was the case with this book. It’s not just that I have worked in this field for many years, but rather, with every chapter I felt I was gaining new insights into what, deep down, people really believe and how these beliefs influence their lives—Carol Dweck, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA

Lay Theories

Author : Michael Argyle
Publisher : Elsevier
ISBN 13 : 1483286479
Total Pages : 267 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (832 download)

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Book Synopsis Lay Theories by : Michael Argyle

Download or read book Lay Theories written by Michael Argyle and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2013-10-22 with total page 267 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Lay theories - the informal, common-sense explanations people give for particular social behaviours - are often very different from formal 'scientific' explanations of what actually happens. While they have been studied in the past, this is the first attempt to review, in detail, the nature of these beliefs. More specifically, it is the first study to consider such fundamental questions as the structure, aetiology, stability and consequence of lay theories about a range of topics. Each chapter covers a different area, such as psychology, psychiatry, medicine, economics, statistics, law and education.

Confronting Prejudice and Discrimination

Author : Robyn K. Mallett
Publisher : Academic Press
ISBN 13 : 0128147164
Total Pages : 372 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (281 download)

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Book Synopsis Confronting Prejudice and Discrimination by : Robyn K. Mallett

Download or read book Confronting Prejudice and Discrimination written by Robyn K. Mallett and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2019-03-09 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Confronting Prejudice and Discrimination: The Science of Changing Minds and Behaviors focuses on confrontation as a strategy for reducing bias and discrimination. The volume tackles questions that people face when they wish to confront bias: What factors influence people’s decisions to confront or ignore bias in its various forms? What are the motives and consequences of confrontation? How can confrontation be approached individually, through education and empowerment, and in specific contexts (e.g., health care) to yield favourable outcomes? These questions are paramount in contemporary society, where confrontation of bias is increasingly evident. Moreover, great strides in the scientific study of confrontation in the past 20 years has yielded valuable insights and answers. This volume is an essential resource for students and researchers with an interest in prejudice and prejudice reduction, and will also be valuable to non-academics who wish to stand up to bias through confrontation. Addresses factors that determine individuals’ decisions to confront stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination Analyzes how personal and collective motives shape responses in confrontation-relevant situations Examines the consequences of confrontation from the perspectives of targets, perpetrators and bystanders Provides a roadmap for how to prepare for and engage in successful confrontations at the individual level Covers confronting bias in various settings including in schools, health care, the workplace and on the internet Discusses confrontation in the context of racism, sexism, sexual harassment and other forms of bias, including intersectional forms of bias

The Scientific Credibility of Folk Psychology

Author : Garth J. O. Fletcher
Publisher : Psychology Press
ISBN 13 : 0805815716
Total Pages : 124 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (58 download)

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Book Synopsis The Scientific Credibility of Folk Psychology by : Garth J. O. Fletcher

Download or read book The Scientific Credibility of Folk Psychology written by Garth J. O. Fletcher and published by Psychology Press. This book was released on 1995 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The examination and evaluation of folk psychology and lay cognition has been carried out predominantly in two domains: personality and social psychology, and the philosophy of psychology. Yet, work in these two areas has largely proceeded independently. The assumption on which this volume is founded is that a proper comparison between scientific cognition and folk ways of thought rests on an adequate study of both science and folk psychology. With this in mind, the author provides an analysis of the intricate, and often hidden, links between these two spheres. In doing so, the book poses two related questions. First, what is the nature of folk psychology and how is it related to scientific psychology? Second, of what should the relationship between folk psychology and scientific psychology consist? In answering these two questions, the author draws extensively from research and arguments in social psychology and social cognition, cognitive science, and the philosophy of science. The interdisciplinary approach gives the book a unique perspective that will be of interest to scholars working in social psychology, cognitive science, and philosophy of science. Written in a concise and accessible style, this volume is suitable for undergraduate and graduate students as well as a general psychological audience.

Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins

Author : Robert C. Bishop
Publisher : InterVarsity Press
ISBN 13 : 0830891641
Total Pages : 690 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (38 download)

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Book Synopsis Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins by : Robert C. Bishop

Download or read book Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins written by Robert C. Bishop and published by InterVarsity Press. This book was released on 2018-12-04 with total page 690 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The question of origins remains a stumbling block for many. But just as the Psalmist gained insight into God's character through the observation of nature, modern scientific study can deepen and enrich our vision of the Creator and our place in his creation. In this often contentious field Bishop, Funck, Lewis, Moshier, and Walton serve as our able guides. Based on over two decades of teaching origins together in the classroom, the authors present a textbook exploring mainstream scientific theories of origins in astronomy, cosmology, chemistry, geology, biology, physical anthropology, and genetics. While many authors engage origins from a Christian perspective, this is the first work offering a full-fledged discussion of the scientific narrative of origins from the Big Bang through humankind, from biblical and theological perspectives accessible to a lay audience. Topics include Principles of biblical interpretation Close readings of relevant Genesis texts A comprehensive Trinitarian doctrine of creation Cosmic origins The geologic history of Earth The origin of life on Earth The origin of species and diversity of life Human origins New creation and creation care Science education Rather than the familiar scenario where science and faith compete, this book seeks to diffuse tensions by taking the inspiration and authority of the Bible seriously while respecting and honoring God's revelation through creation. Understanding Scientific Theories of Origins gives the reader a detailed picture of the sciences of origins along with how they fit into the story of God's creative and redemptive action. BioLogos Books on Science and Christianity invite us to see the harmony between the sciences and biblical faith on issues including cosmology, biology, paleontology, evolution, human origins, the environment, and more.

Theory and Reality

Author : Peter Godfrey-Smith
Publisher : University of Chicago Press
ISBN 13 : 022677113X
Total Pages : 412 pages
Book Rating : 4.2/5 (267 download)

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Book Synopsis Theory and Reality by : Peter Godfrey-Smith

Download or read book Theory and Reality written by Peter Godfrey-Smith and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2021-07-16 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How does science work? Does it tell us what the world is “really” like? What makes it different from other ways of understanding the universe? In Theory and Reality, Peter Godfrey-Smith addresses these questions by taking the reader on a grand tour of more than a hundred years of debate about science. The result is a completely accessible introduction to the main themes of the philosophy of science. Examples and asides engage the beginning student, a glossary of terms explains key concepts, and suggestions for further reading are included at the end of each chapter. Like no other text in this field, Theory and Reality combines a survey of recent history of the philosophy of science with current key debates that any beginning scholar or critical reader can follow. The second edition is thoroughly updated and expanded by the author with a new chapter on truth, simplicity, and models in science.

Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology

Author : Paul A M Van Lange
Publisher : SAGE
ISBN 13 : 1473971373
Total Pages : 1148 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (739 download)

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Book Synopsis Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology by : Paul A M Van Lange

Download or read book Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology written by Paul A M Van Lange and published by SAGE. This book was released on 2011-08-31 with total page 1148 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing a comprehensive exploration of the major developments of social psychological theories that have taken place over the past half century, this innovative two-volume handbook is a state of the art overview of the primary theories and models that have been developed in this vast and fascinating field. Authored by leading international experts, each chapter represents a personal and historical narrative of the theory′s development including the inspirations, critical junctures, and problem-solving efforts that effected theoretical choices and determined the theory′s impact and its evolution. Unique to this handbook, these narratives provide a rich background for understanding how theories are created, nurtured, and shaped over time, and examining their unique contribution to the field as a whole. To examine its societal impact, each theory is evaluated in terms of its applicability to better understanding and solving critical social issues and problems.

The Little Book of String Theory

Author : Steven S. Gubser
Publisher : Princeton University Press
ISBN 13 : 1400834430
Total Pages : 184 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (8 download)

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Book Synopsis The Little Book of String Theory by : Steven S. Gubser

Download or read book The Little Book of String Theory written by Steven S. Gubser and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2010-02-08 with total page 184 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The essential beginner's guide to string theory The Little Book of String Theory offers a short, accessible, and entertaining introduction to one of the most talked-about areas of physics today. String theory has been called the "theory of everything." It seeks to describe all the fundamental forces of nature. It encompasses gravity and quantum mechanics in one unifying theory. But it is unproven and fraught with controversy. After reading this book, you'll be able to draw your own conclusions about string theory. Steve Gubser begins by explaining Einstein's famous equation E = mc2, quantum mechanics, and black holes. He then gives readers a crash course in string theory and the core ideas behind it. In plain English and with a minimum of mathematics, Gubser covers strings, branes, string dualities, extra dimensions, curved spacetime, quantum fluctuations, symmetry, and supersymmetry. He describes efforts to link string theory to experimental physics and uses analogies that nonscientists can understand. How does Chopin's Fantasie-Impromptu relate to quantum mechanics? What would it be like to fall into a black hole? Why is dancing a waltz similar to contemplating a string duality? Find out in the pages of this book. The Little Book of String Theory is the essential, most up-to-date beginner's guide to this elegant, multidimensional field of physics.

Theories of Hypnosis

Author : Steven J. Lynn
Publisher : Guilford Press
ISBN 13 : 9780898623437
Total Pages : 668 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (234 download)

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Book Synopsis Theories of Hypnosis by : Steven J. Lynn

Download or read book Theories of Hypnosis written by Steven J. Lynn and published by Guilford Press. This book was released on 1991-10-04 with total page 668 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: It has been said that "hypnosis is a collection of techniques in need of a unifying theory." (James A. Hall, Hypnosis: A Jungian Perspective). While the varied substrates of these techniques preclude the formation of any one theory of hypnosis, this volume presents a "state-of-the-science" view of existing theories of hypnosis. Written by eminent scholars and researchers, this uniquely authoritative resource also provides a wealth of information about the history of hypnosis, clinical and research perspectives on hypnosis, and the strengths and weaknesses of empirical methods used to address crucial theoretical questions. The streamlined organization of the volume facilitates the reader's ability to contrast and compare research findings and concepts across theories. In the introductory chapters, the editors describe hypnosis paradigms and schools of thought, including major points of convergence and divergence, as well as a broad vista of different perspectives on the history of hypnosis. The theoretical chapters that follow present definitive statements by an international array of eminent scholars who are at the forefront of conceptual advances in the realms of clinical and experimental hypnosis. Their contributions, written in lively first-person narratives, explore current thinking about hypnosis and represent important clinical and research traditions that extend beyond the territory of hypnosis to mainstream psychology. Providing a thorough discussion of hypnotic phenomena, the book tackles tough questions such as whether hypnosis evokes an altered state of consciousness; whether hypnotic behavior is involuntary; whether hypnotizability is stable, trait-like, and modifiable; and whether hypnotic and non-hypnotic behavior can be distinguished in meaningful ways. The diversity of viewpoints, including competitive ones, illuminates the debates which have expanded the frontiers of knowledge about hypnosis. In the concluding section, the editors compare and contrast these theories, discuss pertinent research issues, and lay out an agenda for future research. Given its stellar list of contributors and the unique niche it occupies as the first authoritative survey of its kind, THEORIES OF HYPNOSIS is of value to anyone interested in the topic. The editors' ten years of experience teaching hypnosis to psychology and medical students has resulted in a book with enormous appeal to students and instructors, as well as clinicians and researchers. A wide variety of professionals--academics, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, dentists--will find it an authoritative introduction and invaluable reference to this still-growing, ever-fascinating field.

Cultural Processes

Author : Angela K.-y. Leung
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
ISBN 13 : 1139494775
Total Pages : 337 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (394 download)

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Book Synopsis Cultural Processes by : Angela K.-y. Leung

Download or read book Cultural Processes written by Angela K.-y. Leung and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2010-12-06 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the rapid growth of knowledge concerning ethnic and national group differences in human behaviors in the last two decades, researchers are increasingly curious as to why, how, and when such differences surface. The field is ready to leapfrog from a descriptive science of group differences to a science of cultural processes. The goal of this book is to lay the theoretical foundation for this exciting development by proposing an original process model of culture. This new perspective discusses and extends contemporary social psychological theories of social cognition and social motivation to explain why culture matters in human psychology. We view culture as a loose network of imperfectly shared knowledge representations for coordinating social transactions. As such, culture serves different adaptive functions important for individuals' goal pursuits. Furthermore, with the increasingly globalized and hyper-connected multicultural space, much can be revealed about how different cultural traditions come into contact.

30-Second Theories

Author : Martin Rees
Publisher : Icon Books Ltd
ISBN 13 : 1848314523
Total Pages : 224 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (483 download)

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Book Synopsis 30-Second Theories by : Martin Rees

Download or read book 30-Second Theories written by Martin Rees and published by Icon Books Ltd. This book was released on 2010-05-06 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When it comes to big science, very few things are conclusively known. From Quantum Mechanics to Natural Selection, what we have instead are theories - ideas explain why things happen the way they do. We don't know for certain these are correct - no one ever saw the Big Bang - but with them we can paint beautiful, breathtaking pictures of everything from human behaviour to what the future may hold. Profiling the key scientists behind each theory, "30-Second Theories" presents each entry in a unique, eye-catching full-colour design, with thought-provoking extras and stylish illustrations. It is essential for anyone keen on expanding their mind with science's most thrilling ideas.

Identity Theory

Author : Peter J. Burke
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0197617212
Total Pages : 313 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (976 download)

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Book Synopsis Identity Theory by : Peter J. Burke

Download or read book Identity Theory written by Peter J. Burke and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2022-11-22 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The concept of identity has become widespread within the social and behavioral sciences, cutting across disciplines from psychiatry and psychology to political science and sociology. Introduced more than fifty years ago, identity theory is a social psychological theory that attempts to understand person's identities, their sources in interaction and society, their processes of operation, and their consequences for interaction and society from a sociological perspective. In this fully updated second edition of Identity Theory, Peter J. Burke and Jan E. Stets expand and refine their discussion of identity theory. Each chapter has been significantly revised and chapters have been added to address new theoretical developments and empirical research in the field. They cover identity characteristics, the processes and outcomes of identity verification, and the operation of identities to detail in particular the role of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive processes. In addition, Burke and Stets explore the multiple identities individuals hold from their multiple positions in society and organizations as well as the multiple identities activated by many people interacting in groups and organizations. Written in an accessible style, this revised edition of Identity Theory continues to make the full range of this powerful theory understandable to readers at all levels.

Adiposity

Author : Jan Gordeladze
Publisher : BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN 13 : 9535129953
Total Pages : 254 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (351 download)

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Book Synopsis Adiposity by : Jan Gordeladze

Download or read book Adiposity written by Jan Gordeladze and published by BoD – Books on Demand. This book was released on 2017-03-15 with total page 254 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first in a series of two, featuring the Adiposity - Epidemiology and Treatment Modalities, serving as a summary of the traditional views on how the organ systems are affected when higher organs start to suffer from enhanced body weight, where most of this additional weight consists of white adipose tissue (WAT). The understanding of the "epidemiology" of obesity will consequently enable clinicians and researchers to better understand the untoward "trends" of "metabolic aberrations" from a well-organized and health-bringing homeostasis, with fully responding WAT and BAT, thus enabling a balance between fat-producing and fat-metabolizing tissues for the benefit of the various organ systems taking care of the fat and carbohydrate metabolism, normally yielding a balanced energy turnover, ensuring "healthy" cell phenotypes, which optimally coordinate the energy metabolism in a well-functioning organism throughout a lifetime.

A Philosophy for the Science of Well-Being

Author : Anna Alexandrova
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0190677228
Total Pages : 288 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (96 download)

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Book Synopsis A Philosophy for the Science of Well-Being by : Anna Alexandrova

Download or read book A Philosophy for the Science of Well-Being written by Anna Alexandrova and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2017-07-07 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Well-being, happiness and quality of life are now established objects of social and medical research. Does this science produce knowledge that is properly about well-being? What sort of well-being? The definition and measurement of these objects rest on assumptions that are partly normative, partly empirical and partly pragmatic, producing a great diversity of definitions depending on the project and the discipline. This book, written from the perspective of philosophy of science, formulates principles for the responsible production and interpretation of this diverse knowledge. Traditionally, philosophers' goal has been a single concept of well-being and a single theory about what it consists in. But for science this goal is both unlikely and unnecessary. Instead the promise and authority of the science depends on it focusing on the well-being of specific kinds of people in specific contexts. Skeptical arguments notwithstanding, this contextual well-being can be measured in a valid and credible way - but only if scientists broaden their methods to make room for normative considerations and address publicly and inclusively the value-based conflicts that inevitably arise when a measure of well-being is adopted. The science of well-being can be normative, empirical and objective all at once, provided that we line up values to science and science to values.

The Structure of Evolutionary Theory

Author : Stephen Jay Gould
Publisher : Harvard University Press
ISBN 13 : 0674417925
Total Pages : 1460 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (744 download)

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Book Synopsis The Structure of Evolutionary Theory by : Stephen Jay Gould

Download or read book The Structure of Evolutionary Theory written by Stephen Jay Gould and published by Harvard University Press. This book was released on 2002-03-21 with total page 1460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The world’s most revered and eloquent interpreter of evolutionary ideas offers here a work of explanatory force unprecedented in our time—a landmark publication, both for its historical sweep and for its scientific vision. With characteristic attention to detail, Stephen Jay Gould first describes the content and discusses the history and origins of the three core commitments of classical Darwinism: that natural selection works on organisms, not genes or species; that it is almost exclusively the mechanism of adaptive evolutionary change; and that these changes are incremental, not drastic. Next, he examines the three critiques that currently challenge this classic Darwinian edifice: that selection operates on multiple levels, from the gene to the group; that evolution proceeds by a variety of mechanisms, not just natural selection; and that causes operating at broader scales, including catastrophes, have figured prominently in the course of evolution. Then, in a stunning tour de force that will likely stimulate discussion and debate for decades, Gould proposes his own system for integrating these classical commitments and contemporary critiques into a new structure of evolutionary thought. In 2001 the Library of Congress named Stephen Jay Gould one of America’s eighty-three Living Legends—people who embody the “quintessentially American ideal of individual creativity, conviction, dedication, and exuberance.” Each of these qualities finds full expression in this peerless work, the likes of which the scientific world has not seen—and may not see again—for well over a century.

A General Theory of Love

Author : Thomas Lewis
Publisher : Vintage
ISBN 13 : 0307424340
Total Pages : 290 pages
Book Rating : 4.3/5 (74 download)

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Book Synopsis A General Theory of Love by : Thomas Lewis

Download or read book A General Theory of Love written by Thomas Lewis and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2007-12-18 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This original and lucid account of the complexities of love and its essential role in human well-being draws on the latest scientific research. Three eminent psychiatrists tackle the difficult task of reconciling what artists and thinkers have known for thousands of years about the human heart with what has only recently been learned about the primitive functions of the human brain. A General Theory of Love demonstrates that our nervous systems are not self-contained: from earliest childhood, our brains actually link with those of the people close to us, in a silent rhythm that alters the very structure of our brains, establishes life-long emotional patterns, and makes us, in large part, who we are. Explaining how relationships function, how parents shape their child’s developing self, how psychotherapy really works, and how our society dangerously flouts essential emotional laws, this is a work of rare passion and eloquence that will forever change the way you think about human intimacy.

Faraday to Einstein: Constructing Meaning in Scientific Theories

Author : N.J. Nersessian
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN 13 : 9400961871
Total Pages : 203 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (9 download)

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Book Synopsis Faraday to Einstein: Constructing Meaning in Scientific Theories by : N.J. Nersessian

Download or read book Faraday to Einstein: Constructing Meaning in Scientific Theories written by N.J. Nersessian and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2012-12-06 with total page 203 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Einstein often expressed the sentiment that "the eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility," and that science is the means through which we comprehend it. However, nearly every one - including scientists - agrees that the concepts of modem physics are quite incomprehensible: They are both unintelligible to the educated lay-person and to the scientific community itself, where there is much dispute over the interpretation of even (and especially) the most basic concepts. There is, of course, almost universal agreement that modem science quite adequately accounts for and predicts events, i. e. , that its calculations work better than those of classical physics; yet the concepts of science are supposed to be descriptive of 'the world' as well - they should enable us to comprehend it. So, it is asked, and needs tobe"asked: Has modem physics failed in an important respect? It failed with me as a physics student. I came to physics, as with most naIve students, out of a desire to know what the world is really like; in particular, to understand Einstein's conception of it. I thought I had grasped the concepts in classical mechanics, but with electrodynamics confusion set in and only increased with relativity and quantum mechanics. At that point I began even to doubt whether I had really understood the basic concepts of classical mechanics.