Distant Planet

Author : M. Vázquez,E. Pallé,P. Montañés Rodríguez
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 430 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2010-03-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781441916846

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The Earth as a Distant Planet by M. Vázquez,E. Pallé,P. Montañés Rodríguez Pdf

In The Earth as a Distant Planet, the authors become external observers of our solar system from a distance and try to determine how one can understand how Earth, the third in distance to the central star, is essentially unique and capable of sustaining life. The knowledge gained from this original perspective is then applied to the search for other planets outside the solar system, or exoplanets. Since the discovery in 1992 of the first exoplanet, the number of planet detections has increased exponentially and ambitious missions are already being planned for the future. The exploration of Earth and the rest of the rocky planets are Rosetta stones in classifying and understanding the multiplicity of planetary systems that exist in our galaxy. In time, statistics on the formation and evolution of exoplanets will be available and will provide vital information for solving some of the unanswered questions about the formation, as well as evolution of our own world and solar system. Special attention is paid to the biosignatures (signs of life) detectable in the Earth's reflected spectra and the search for life in the universe. The authors are experts on the subject of extrasolar planets. They provide an introductory but also very much up-to-date text, making this book suitable for researchers and for advanced students in astronomy and astrophysics.

Author : Scott Soames
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 441 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2008-12-08
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781400837847

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Philosophical Essays, Volume 1 by Scott Soames Pdf

The two volumes of Philosophical Essays bring together the most important essays written by one of the world's foremost philosophers of language. Scott Soames has selected thirty-one essays spanning nearly three decades of thinking about linguistic meaning and the philosophical significance of language. A judicious collection of old and new, these volumes include sixteen essays published in the 1980s and 1990s, nine published since 2000, and six new essays. The essays in Volume 1 investigate what linguistic meaning is; how the meaning of a sentence is related to the use we make of it; what we should expect from empirical theories of the meaning of the languages we speak; and how a sound theoretical grasp of the intricate relationship between meaning and use can improve the interpretation of legal texts. The essays in Volume 2 illustrate the significance of linguistic concerns for a broad range of philosophical topics--including the relationship between language and thought; the objects of belief, assertion, and other propositional attitudes; the distinction between metaphysical and epistemic possibility; the nature of necessity, actuality, and possible worlds; the necessary a posteriori and the contingent a priori; truth, vagueness, and partial definition; and skepticism about meaning and mind. The two volumes of Philosophical Essays are essential for anyone working on the philosophy of language.

Author : Michael Bergmann
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 295 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2021
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780192898487

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Radical Skepticism and Epistemic Intuition by Michael Bergmann Pdf

Radical skepticism endorses the extreme claim that large swaths of our ordinary beliefs, such as those produced by perception or memory, are irrational. The best arguments for such skepticism are, in their essentials, as familiar as a popular science fiction movie and yet even seasoned epistemologists continue to find them strangely seductive. Moreover, although most contemporary philosophers dismiss radical skepticism, they cannot agree on how best to respond to the challenge it presents. In the tradition of the 18th century Scottish philosopher, Thomas Reid, Radical Skepticism and Epistemic Intuition joins this discussion by taking up four main tasks. First, it identifies the strongest arguments for radical skepticism, namely, underdetermination arguments, which emphasize the gap between our evidence and our ordinary beliefs based on that evidence. Second, it rejects all inferential or argument-based responses to radical skepticism, which aim to lay out good noncircular reasoning from the evidence on which we base our ordinary beliefs to the conclusion that those beliefs are probably true. Third, it develops a commonsense noninferential response to radical skepticism with two distinctive features: (a) it consciously and extensively relies on epistemic intuitions, which are seemings about epistemic goods, such as knowledge and rationality, and (b) it can be endorsed without difficulty by both internalists and externalists in epistemology. Fourth, and finally, it defends this commonsense epistemic-intuition-based response to radical skepticism against a variety of objections, including those connected with underdetermination worries, epistemic circularity, disagreement problems, experimental philosophy, and concerns about whether it engages skepticism in a sufficiently serious way.

Author : Martin Peterson
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 256 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2017-06-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780190652289

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The Ethics of Technology by Martin Peterson Pdf

Autonomous cars, drones, and electronic surveillance systems are examples of technologies that raise serious ethical issues. In this analytic investigation, Martin Peterson articulates and defends five moral principles for addressing ethical issues related to new and existing technologies: the cost-benefit principle, the precautionary principle, the sustainability principle, the autonomy principle, and the fairness principle. It is primarily the method developed by Peterson for articulating and analyzing the five principles that is novel. He argues that geometric concepts such as points, lines, and planes can be put to work for clarifying the structure and scope of these and other moral principles. This geometric account is based on the Aristotelian dictum that like cases should be treated alike, meaning that the degree of similarity between different cases can be represented as a distance in moral space. The more similar a pair of cases are from a moral point of view, the closer is their location in moral space. A case that lies closer in moral space to a paradigm case for some principle p than to any paradigm for any other principle should be analyzed by applying principle p. The book also presents empirical results from a series of experimental studies in which experts (philosophers) and laypeople (engineering students) have been asked to apply the geometric method to fifteen real-world cases. The empirical findings indicate that experts and laypeople do in fact apply geometrically construed moral principles in roughly, but not exactly, the manner advocates of the geometric method believe they ought to be applied.

Author : Simon M. Sherwood
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 309 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2023-10-02
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781394190577

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Quantum Untangling by Simon M. Sherwood Pdf

Non-technical and accessible primer providing key foundational knowledge on quantum mechanics and quantum field theory Quantum Untangling introduces the readers to the fascinating and strange realm of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, written in an accessible manner while not shying away from using mathematics where necessary. The book goes into sufficient depth and conveys basic and more intricate concepts such as wave-particle duality, wave functions, the superposition principle, quantum tunneling, the quantum harmonic oscillator, the Dirac equation, and Feynman diagrams. It also covers the physics of the Higgs boson and provides a glimpse into string theory and loop quantum gravity. Overall, the author introduces complex concepts of quantum mechanics in an accessible and fun-to-read manner while laying the groundwork for mastering an advanced level of treatment in standard quantum mechanics textbooks and university courses. Quantum Untangling includes information on: Special relativity, time and length distortion, Einstein’s famous equation, how Einstein figured it out, and the implications for energy, mass and momentum Wave particle duality, discussing what classical physics cannot explain, quanta of light and the photoelectric effect, De Broglie’s crazy idea, and the double-slit experiment Making sense of Schrödinger’s equation, angular momentum and the wave function, angular rotational energy, atomic structure and molecular bonds Spin, Quantum Electrodynamics, gauge invariance, the strong and weak forces, plus a step-by-step description of the Higgs mechanism With Quantum Untangling, any reader with a good grasp of and an above-average interest in mathematics at advanced high-school level can follow the presentation and acquaint themselves with the fundamental and advanced topics of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory, making it a helpful resource for many different students.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 520 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 1873
Category : Attractions of ellipsoids
ISBN : IBNN:BN000641399

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A History of the Mathematical Theories of Attraction and the Figure of the Earth from the Time of Newton to that of Laplace by I. Todhunter by Anonim Pdf

Author : Isaac Todhunter
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 520 pages
File Size : 41,7 Mb
Release : 1873
Category : Attractions of ellipsoids
ISBN : UOM:39015068407652

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A History of the Mathematical Theories of Attraction and the Figure of the Earth from the Time of Newton to that of Laplace by Isaac Todhunter Pdf

Author : Graeme Partington
Publisher : Lulu.com
Page : 138 pages
File Size : 43,9 Mb
Release : 2017-07-17
Category : Education
ISBN : 9780244920708

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Planets: First 100 Lessons by Graeme Partington Pdf

For the first time in 4.6 billion years, your First 100 lessons regarding planets are here. A fascinating tour through space awaits you! This is your ideal introduction to Astronomy. The chapters take you to all eight major planets of our Solar System. All lessons are one-to-a-page. These are the first lessons to learn about planets. Learn the unique qualities and the highlights of each planet. Take an epic journey - as far as the eye can see!

Author : David A. Weintraub
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 280 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2014-06-12
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781400852970

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Is Pluto a Planet? by David A. Weintraub Pdf

A Note from the Author: On August 24, 2006, at the 26th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Prague, by a majority vote of only the 424 members present, the IAU (an organization of over 10,000 members) passed a resolution defining planet in such a way as to exclude Pluto and established a new class of objects in the solar system to be called "dwarf planets," which was deliberately designed to include Pluto. With the discovery of Eris (2003 UB313)—an outer solar system object thought to be both slightly larger than Pluto and twice as far from the Sun—astronomers have again been thrown into an age-old debate about what is and what is not a planet. One of many sizeable hunks of rock and ice in the Kuiper Belt, Eris has resisted easy classification and inspired much controversy over the definition of planethood. But, Pluto itself has been subject to controversy since its discovery in 1930, and questions over its status linger. Is it a planet? What exactly is a planet? Is Pluto a Planet? tells the story of how the meaning of the word "planet" has changed from antiquity to the present day, as new objects in our solar system have been discovered. In lively, thoroughly accessible prose, David Weintraub provides the historical, philosophical, and astronomical background that allows us to decide for ourselves whether Pluto is indeed a planet. The number of possible planets has ranged widely over the centuries, from five to seventeen. This book makes sense of it all—from the ancient Greeks' observation that some stars wander while others don't; to Copernicus, who made Earth a planet but rejected the Sun and the Moon; to the discoveries of comets, Uranus, Ceres, the asteroid belt, Neptune, Pluto, centaurs, the Kuiper Belt and Eris, and extrasolar planets. Weaving the history of our thinking about planets and cosmology into a single, remarkable story, Is Pluto a Planet? is for all those who seek a fuller understanding of the science surrounding both Pluto and the provocative recent discoveries in our outer solar system.

Author : DK
Publisher : Penguin
Page : 354 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2012-06-18
Category : Nature
ISBN : 9781465403537

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Nature Guide: Stars and Planets by DK Pdf

All new text, some photography re-use, although no disclaimer will be needed. This is a new, fresh series of Nature Guides with all-new content. With a clean, modern design, these books are perfect for the beginner naturalist and family reference. From trees to rocks and minerals, and birds to stars and planets, each volume provides a thorough introduction and detailed, clearly illustrated profiles of hundreds of examples from within that subject area. Each book is packed with stunning photography, and key information is provided by expert contributors. The books are carefully structured, with catalog entries organized into easily understood groups that the newcomer will have no difficulty in navigating and the more experienced reader will appreciate. Each profile centers on a high-impact commissioned image of the subject, allowing instant identification, and is accompanied by concise, authoritative text. Additional images provide context, while a data panel summarizes key facts about each example. Each title opens with an introductory section that explains each subject in detail. This is followed by a comprehensive illustrated catalog. A glossary of key terms and a detailed index complete each volume. About the Imprimatur: The Smithsonian Institution is the largest museum complex in the world and a research center for research dedicated to public education and scholarship in the arts, sciences, and history.

Author : Anonim
Publisher : First Avenue Editions
Page : 52 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 1996-01-01
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 0876149697

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Clyde Tombaugh and the Search for Planet X by Anonim Pdf

The story of the young farm boy who became an astronomer and discovered the planet Pluto at the age of twenty-four.

Author : Bruce Dorminey
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 232 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2013-03-09
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781475750010

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Distant Wanderers by Bruce Dorminey Pdf

Recent discoveries of planet-like objects circling other sun-like stars have stirred enormous interest in what other planets may exist in the universe, and whether they could support intelligent life. This book takes us into the midst of this search for extrasolar planets. Unlike other books, it focuses on the people behind the searches -- many known personally by the author -- and the extraordinary technology that is currently on the drawing boards. The author is an experienced, award-winning science journalist who was previously technology correspondent for the Financial Times of London. He has written on many topics in astronomy and astrobiology in over 35 different newspapers and magazines worldwide.

Author : Peter K. Unger
Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
Page : 273 pages
File Size : 40,5 Mb
Release : 2014
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780199330812

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Empty Ideas by Peter K. Unger Pdf

During the middle of the twentieth century, philosophers generally agreed that, by contrast with science, philosophy should offer no substantial thoughts about the general nature of concrete reality. Instead, philosophers offered conceptual truths. It is widely assumed that, since 1970, things have changed greatly. This book lays crucial challenges at the door of mainstream analytic philosophy, for Unger argues persuasively that (contrary to its explicit self-conception), a great deal of recent philosophy has been concerned with merely conceptual issues - nothing 'concretely substantial'.

Author : Thomas Christiano,John Christman
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 488 pages
File Size : 45,8 Mb
Release : 2009-03-30
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 1444310380

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Contemporary Debates in Political Philosophy by Thomas Christiano,John Christman Pdf

This collection of 24 essays, written by eminent philosophers and political theorists, brings together fresh debates on some of the most fundamental questions in contemporary political philosophy, including human rights, equality, constitutionalism, the value of democracy, identity and political neutrality. Presents fresh debates on six of the fundamental questions in contemporary political philosophy Each question is treated by a pair of opposing essays written by eminent scholars Lively debate format sharply defines the issues, invites the reader to participate in the exchange of arguments and paves the way for further discussion Will serve as an accessible introduction to the major topics in political philosophy, whilst also capturing the imagination of professional philosophers Offers the unique opportunity to observe leading philosophers engaging in head-to-head debate

Author : Anonim
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2017-06-02
Category : Education
ISBN : 8210379456XXX

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Current Affairs June 2017 eBook by Anonim Pdf

Current Affairs June 2017 eBook is created by keeping the demands of recent pattern of various competitive exams in major view. It is brought to you by Jagranjosh.com . The topics for cover story, and entire news section are selected on the basis of an analysis of general knowledge sections in all important exams including IAS, PCS, BANK, SSC, Insurance and others. And the time duration of topics covered in magazine includes all exam oriented current affairs of January 2017. It presents the comprehensive coverage of the events of current affairs which are chosen on the basis of the requirements of all important exams. It covers all exam oriented current affairs of May 2017 with all required facts and analysis. The analysis of all the events related to national, international, economy, science & technology, environment & ecology is done in a way that fulfills the demand of all the important exams including IAS. The language used in the magazine is lucid and easy-to-understand language. The major topics included in the magazine for cover story are: Instant Triple Talaq Controversy: What & Why?, Taxing Agricultural Income in India, Real Estate Regulation Act: A Positive Move, Launch of South Asia Satellite: Sign of growing India’s soft power. The eBook is expected to be handy for most of forthcoming exams like, Civil Services Examination, Various Insurance AO Exams, PCS exams, MAT and others.