The Metaphysics Within Physics

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The Metaphysics Within Physics

Tim Maudlin
The Metaphysics Within Physics Book PDF

Author : Tim Maudlin
Publisher : OUP Oxford
Page : 208 pages
File Size : 42,9 Mb
Release : 2007-04-19
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780191607646

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The Metaphysics Within Physics by Tim Maudlin Pdf

What fundamental account of the world is implicit in physical theory? Physics straightforwardly postulates quarks and electrons, but what of the more intangible elements, such as laws of nature, universals, causation and the direction of time? Do they have a place in the physical structure of the world? Tim Maudlin argues that the ontology derived from physics takes a form quite different from those most commonly defended by philosophers. Physics postulates irreducible fundamental laws, eschews universals, does not require a fundamental notion of causation, and makes room for the passage of time. In a series of linked essays The Metaphysics Within Physics outlines an approach to metaphysics opposed to the Humean reductionism that motivates much analytical metaphysics.

The Metaphysics Within Physics

Tim Maudlin
The Metaphysics Within Physics Book PDF

Author : Tim Maudlin
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 197 pages
File Size : 43,7 Mb
Release : 2007
Category : Metaphysics
ISBN : 0191711594

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The Metaphysics Within Physics by Tim Maudlin Pdf

What does physics tell us about metaphysics? Tim Maudlin's philosophical examination of the fundamental structure of the world as presented by physics challenges the most widely accepted philosophical accounts of laws of nature, universals, the direction of time and causation.

Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity

Tim Maudlin
Quantum Non Locality and Relativity Book PDF

Author : Tim Maudlin
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 326 pages
File Size : 52,6 Mb
Release : 2011-05-06
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781444331271

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Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity by Tim Maudlin Pdf

The third edition of Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity has been carefully updated to reflect significant developments, including a new chapter covering important recent work in the foundations of physics. A new edition of the premier philosophical study of Bell’s Theorem and its implication for the relativistic account of space and time Discusses Roderich Tumiulka’s explicit, relativistic theory that can reproduce the quantum mechanical violation of Bell’s inequality. Discusses the "Free Will Theorem" of John Conway and Simon Kochen Introduces philosophers to the relevant physics and demonstrates how philosophical analysis can help inform physics

Philosophy of Physics

Tim Maudlin
Philosophy of Physics Book PDF

Author : Tim Maudlin
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 199 pages
File Size : 47,6 Mb
Release : 2015-05-26
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780691165714

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Philosophy of Physics by Tim Maudlin Pdf

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

Philosophy of Physics

Tim Maudlin
Philosophy of Physics Book PDF

Author : Tim Maudlin
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 249 pages
File Size : 48,7 Mb
Release : 2019-03-19
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780691183527

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Philosophy of Physics by Tim Maudlin Pdf

A sophisticated and original introduction to the philosophy of quantum mechanics from one of the world’s leading philosophers of physics In this book, Tim Maudlin, one of the world’s leading philosophers of physics, offers a sophisticated, original introduction to the philosophy of quantum mechanics. The briefest, clearest, and most refined account of his influential approach to the subject, the book will be invaluable to all students of philosophy and physics. Quantum mechanics holds a unique place in the history of physics. It has produced the most accurate predictions of any scientific theory, but, more astonishing, there has never been any agreement about what the theory implies about physical reality. Maudlin argues that the very term “quantum theory” is a misnomer. A proper physical theory should clearly describe what is there and what it does—yet standard textbooks present quantum mechanics as a predictive recipe in search of a physical theory. In contrast, Maudlin explores three proper theories that recover the quantum predictions: the indeterministic wavefunction collapse theory of Ghirardi, Rimini, and Weber; the deterministic particle theory of deBroglie and Bohm; and the conceptually challenging Many Worlds theory of Everett. Each offers a radically different proposal for the nature of physical reality, but Maudlin shows that none of them are what they are generally taken to be.

Quantum Ontology

Peter J. Lewis
Quantum Ontology Book PDF

Author : Peter J. Lewis
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 240 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 2016-06-13
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780190618797

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Quantum Ontology by Peter J. Lewis Pdf

Metaphysicians should pay attention to quantum mechanics. Why? Not because it provides definitive answers to many metaphysical questions-the theory itself is remarkably silent on the nature of the physical world, and the various interpretations of the theory on offer present conflicting ontological pictures. Rather, quantum mechanics is essential to the metaphysician because it reshapes standard metaphysical debates and opens up unforeseen new metaphysical possibilities. Even if quantum mechanics provides few clear answers, there are good reasons to think that any adequate understanding of the quantum world will result in a radical reshaping of our classical world-view in some way or other. Whatever the world is like at the atomic scale, it is almost certainly not the swarm of particles pushed around by forces that is often presupposed. This book guides readers through the theory of quantum mechanics and its implications for metaphysics in a clear and accessible way. The theory and its various interpretations are presented with a minimum of technicality. The consequences of these interpretations for metaphysical debates concerning realism, indeterminacy, causation, determinism, holism, and individuality (among other topics) are explored in detail, stressing the novel form that the debates take given the empirical facts in the quantum domain. While quantum mechanics may not deliver unconditional pronouncements on these issues, the range of possibilities consistent with our knowledge of the empirical world is relatively small-and each possibility is metaphysically revisionary in some way. This book will appeal to researchers, students, and anybody else interested in how science informs our world-view.

Metaphysics in Contemporary Physics

Tomasz Bigaj,Christian Wüthrich
Metaphysics in Contemporary Physics Book PDF

Author : Tomasz Bigaj,Christian Wüthrich
Publisher : BRILL
Page : 485 pages
File Size : 45,9 Mb
Release : 2015-11-24
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9789004310827

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Metaphysics in Contemporary Physics by Tomasz Bigaj,Christian Wüthrich Pdf

The book Metaphysics in Contemporary Physics offers various perspectives on the relation and mutual influence between modern physical theories and analytic metaphysics. The authors of the contributions are philosophers of science, physicists and metaphysicians of international renown, and their work represents the cutting edge in modern metaphysics of physical sciences.

Quantum Ontology

Peter J. Lewis
Quantum Ontology Book PDF

Author : Peter J. Lewis
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 233 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2016
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780190469825

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Quantum Ontology by Peter J. Lewis Pdf

Metaphysicians should pay attention to quantum mechanics-not because it provides definitive answers to many metaphysical questions, but because it reshapes standard metaphysical debates and opens up unforeseen new possibilities. This book guides readers through the theory of quantum mechanics and its metaphysical implications in a clear and accessible way.

Time Machines

Paul J. Nahin
Time Machines Book PDF

Author : Paul J. Nahin
Publisher : Springer Science & Business Media
Page : 674 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2001-04-20
Category : Science
ISBN : 0387985719

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Time Machines by Paul J. Nahin Pdf

This book explores the idea of time travel from the first account in English literature to the latest theories of physicists such as Kip Thorne and Igor Novikov. This very readable work covers a variety of topics including: the history of time travel in fiction; the fundamental scientific concepts of time, spacetime, and the fourth dimension; the speculations of Einstein, Richard Feynman, Kurt Goedel, and others; time travel paradoxes, and much more.

Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity

Tim Maudlin
Quantum Non Locality and Relativity Book PDF

Author : Tim Maudlin
Publisher : John Wiley & Sons
Page : 297 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2008-04-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780470752159

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Quantum Non-Locality and Relativity by Tim Maudlin Pdf

Modern physics was born from two great revolutions: relativity and the quantum theory. Relativity imposed a locality constraint on physical theories: since nothing can go faster than light, very distant events cannot influence one another. Only in the last few decades has it become clear that the quantum theory violates this constraint. The work of J.S. Bell has demonstrated that no local theory can return the predictions of quantum theory. Thus it would seem that the central pillars of modern physics are contradictory.

Information and the Nature of Reality

Paul Davies,Niels Henrik Gregersen
Information and the Nature of Reality Book PDF

Author : Paul Davies,Niels Henrik Gregersen
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 507 pages
File Size : 52,7 Mb
Release : 2014-05-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9781107684539

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Information and the Nature of Reality by Paul Davies,Niels Henrik Gregersen Pdf

From quantum to biological and digital, here eminent scientists, philosophers and theologians chart various aspects of information.

Fundamental Causation

Christopher Gregory Weaver
Fundamental Causation Book PDF

Author : Christopher Gregory Weaver
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 394 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2018-08-06
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781315449067

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Fundamental Causation by Christopher Gregory Weaver Pdf

Fundamental Causation addresses issues in the metaphysics of deterministic singular causation, the metaphysics of events, property instances, facts, preventions, and omissions, as well as the debate between causal reductionists and causal anti-reductionists. The book also pays special attention to causation and causal structure in physics. Weaver argues that causation is a multigrade obtaining relation that is transitive, irreflexive, and asymmetric. When causation is singular, deterministic and such that it relates purely contingent events, the relation is also universal, intrinsic, and well-founded. He shows that proper causal relata are events understood as states of substances at ontological indices. He then proves that causation cannot be reduced to some non-causal base, and that the best account of that relation should be unashamedly primitivist about the dependence relation that underwrites its very nature. The book demonstrates a distinctive realist and anti-reductionist account of causation by detailing precisely how the account outperforms reductionist and competing anti-reductionist accounts in that it handles all of the difficult cases while overcoming all of the general objections to anti-reductionism upon which other anti-reductionist accounts falter. This book offers an original and interesting view of causation and will appeal to scholars and advanced students in the areas of metaphysics, philosophy of science, and philosophy of physics.

From Physics to Metaphysics

Michael Redhead
From Physics to Metaphysics Book PDF

Author : Michael Redhead
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 126 pages
File Size : 40,7 Mb
Release : 1996-08-15
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0521589665

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From Physics to Metaphysics by Michael Redhead Pdf

The book is drawn from the Tarner lectures, delivered in Cambridge in 1993. It is concerned with the ultimate nature of reality, and how this is revealed by modern physical theories such as relativity and quantum theory. The objectivity and rationality of science are defended against the views of relativists and social constructionists. It is claimed that modern physics gives us a tentative and fallible, but nevertheless rational, approach to the nature of physical reality. The role of subjectivity in science is examined in the fields of relativity theory, statistical mechanics and quantum theory, and recent claims of an essential role for human consciousness in physics are rejected. Prospects for a 'Theory of Everything' are considered, and the related question of how to assess scientific progress is carefully examined.

On the Metaphysics of Experimental Physics

K. Rogers
On the Metaphysics of Experimental Physics Book PDF

Author : K. Rogers
Publisher : Springer
Page : 252 pages
File Size : 48,8 Mb
Release : 2005-04-15
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780230505100

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On the Metaphysics of Experimental Physics by K. Rogers Pdf

This provocative and critical work addresses the question of why scientific realists and positivists consider experimental physics to be a natural and empirical science. Taking insights from contemporary science studies, continental philosophy, and the history of physics, this book describes and analyses the metaphysical presuppositions that underwrite the technological use of experimental apparatus and instruments to explore, model, and understand nature. By revealing this metaphysical foundation, the author questions whether experimental physics is a natural and empirical science at all.

Causation and Its Basis in Fundamental Physics

Douglas Kutach
Causation and Its Basis in Fundamental Physics Book PDF

Author : Douglas Kutach
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 349 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2013-10
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780199936205

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Causation and Its Basis in Fundamental Physics by Douglas Kutach Pdf

This book is the first comprehensive attempt to solve what Hartry Field has called "the central problem in the metaphysics of causation": the problem of reconciling the need for causal notions in the special sciences with the limited role of causation in physics. If the world evolves fundamentally according to laws of physics, what place can be found for the causal regularities and principles identified by the special sciences? Douglas Kutach answers this question by invoking a novel distinction between fundamental and derivative reality and a complementary conception of reduction. He then constructs a framework that allows all causal regularities from the sciences to be rendered in terms of fundamental relations. By drawing on a methodology that focuses on explaining the results of specially crafted experiments, Kutach avoids the endless task of catering to pre-theoretical judgments about causal scenarios. This volume is a detailed case study that uses fundamental physics to elucidate causation, but technicalities are eschewed so that a wide range of philosophers can profit. The book is packed with innovations: new models of events, probability, counterfactual dependence, influence, and determinism. These lead to surprising implications for topics like Newcomb's paradox, action at a distance, Simpson's paradox, and more. Kutach explores the special connection between causation and time, ultimately providing a never-before-presented explanation for the direction of causation. Along the way, readers will discover that events cause themselves, that low barometer readings do cause thunderstorms after all, and that we humans routinely affect the past more than we affect the future.