Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale

Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale PDF Author: Craig Callender
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521664455
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 380

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Book Description
Was the first book to examine the exciting area of overlap between philosophy and quantum mechanics with chapters by leading experts from around the world.

Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale

Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale PDF Author: Craig Callender
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521664455
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 380

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Book Description
Was the first book to examine the exciting area of overlap between philosophy and quantum mechanics with chapters by leading experts from around the world.

Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale

Physics Meets Philosophy at the Planck Scale PDF Author: Craig Callender
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521662802
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
The greatest challenge in fundamental physics attempts to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity in a theory of "quantum gravity." The project suggests a profound revision of the notions of space, time and matter. It has become a key topic of debate and collaboration between physicists and philosophers. This volume collects classic and original contributions from leading experts in both fields for a provocative discussion of the issues. It contains accessible introductions to the main and less-well-known known approaches to quantum gravity. It includes exciting topics such as the fate of spacetime in various theories, the so-called "problem of time" in canonical quantum gravity, black hole thermodynamics, and the relationship between the interpretation of quantum theory and quantum gravity. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the profound implications of trying to marry the two most important theories in physics.

Beyond Spacetime

Beyond Spacetime PDF Author: Nick Huggett
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1108757189
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 371

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Book Description
One of the greatest challenges in fundamental physics is to reconcile quantum mechanics and general relativity in a theory of quantum gravity. A successful theory would have profound consequences for our understanding of space, time, and matter. This collection of essays written by eminent physicists and philosophers discusses these consequences and examines the most important conceptual questions among philosophers and physicists in their search for a quantum theory of gravity. Comprising three parts, the book explores the emergence of classical spacetime, the nature of time, and important questions of the interpretation, metaphysics, and epistemology of quantum gravity. These essays will appeal to both physicists and philosophers of science working on problems in foundational physics, specifically that of quantum gravity.

The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time

The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Time PDF Author: Craig Callender
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191559385
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 704

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Book Description
As the study of time has flourished in the physical and human sciences, the philosophy of time has come into its own as a lively and diverse area of academic research. Philosophers investigate not just the metaphysics of time, and our experience and representation of time, but the role of time in ethics and action, and philosophical issues in the sciences of time, especially with regard to quantum mechanics and relativity theory. This Handbook presents twenty-three specially written essays by leading figures in their fields: it is the first comprehensive collaborative study of the philosophy of time, and will set the agenda for future work.

The Trouble with Physics

The Trouble with Physics PDF Author: Lee Smolin
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN: 9780618551057
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 420

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Book Description
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Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory

Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory PDF Author: Tian Yu Cao
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9780521602723
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 424

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Book Description
Multi-author volume on the history and philosophy of physics.

Quantum Concepts in Space and Time

Quantum Concepts in Space and Time PDF Author: Roger Penrose
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 376

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Book Description
This book is based on a conference held at Oxford in the Spring of 1984 to discuss Quantum Gravity. As an assessment of the present status of quantum theory which also considers future developments, this book should provide much stimulating material for both researchers and post graduate students in theortical and mathematical physics.

String Theory and the Scientific Method

String Theory and the Scientific Method PDF Author: Richard Dawid
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107067588
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
String theory has played a highly influential role in theoretical physics for nearly three decades and has substantially altered our view of the elementary building principles of the Universe. However, the theory remains empirically unconfirmed, and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future. So why do string theorists have such a strong belief in their theory? This book explores this question, offering a novel insight into the nature of theory assessment itself. Dawid approaches the topic from a unique position, having extensive experience in both philosophy and high-energy physics. He argues that string theory is just the most conspicuous example of a number of theories in high-energy physics where non-empirical theory assessment has an important part to play. Aimed at physicists and philosophers of science, the book does not use mathematical formalism and explains most technical terms.

The Ontology of Spacetime

The Ontology of Spacetime PDF Author:
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 9780080461885
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 306

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Book Description
This book contains selected papers from the First International Conference on the Ontology of Spacetime. Its fourteen chapters address two main questions: first, what is the current status of the substantivalism/relationalism debate, and second, what about the prospects of presentism and becoming within present-day physics and its philosophy? The overall tenor of the four chapters of the book’s first part is that the prospects of spacetime substantivalism are bleak, although different possible positions remain with respect to the ontological status of spacetime. Part II and Part III of the book are devoted to presentism, eternalism, and becoming, from two different perspectives. In the six chapters of Part II it is argued, in different ways, that relativity theory does not have essential consequences for these issues. It certainly is true that the structure of time is different, according to relativity theory, from the one in classical theory. But that does not mean that a decision is forced between presentism and eternalism, or that becoming has proved to be an impossible concept. It may even be asked whether presentism and eternalism really offer different ontological perspectives at all. The writers of the last four chapters, in Part III, disagree. They argue that relativity theory is incompatible with becoming and presentism. Several of them come up with proposals to go beyond relativity, in order to restore the prospects of presentism. · Space and time in present-day physics and philosophy · Introduction from scratch of the debates surrounding time · Broad spectrum of approaches, coherently represented

Quantum Physics Meets the Philosophy of Mind

Quantum Physics Meets the Philosophy of Mind PDF Author: Antonella Corradini
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG
ISBN: 3110387557
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 218

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Book Description
Quantum physics, in contrast to classical physics, allows non-locality and indeterminism in nature. Moreover, the role of the observer seems indispensable in quantum physics. In fact, quantum physics, unlike classical physics, suggests a metaphysics that is not physicalism (which is today’s official metaphysical doctrine). As is well known, physicalism implies a reductive position in the philosophy of mind, specifically in its two core areas, the philosophy of consciousness and the philosophy of action. Quantum physics, in contrast, is compatible with psychological non-reductionism, and actually seems to support it. The essays in this book explore, from various points of view, the possibilities of basing a non-reductive philosophy of mind on quantum physics. In doing so, they not only engage with the ontological and epistemological aspects of the question but also with the neurophysiological ones.