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Philosophy of physical science is the learn of the fundamental frequency, philosophical questions underlying modern physics, the learn of matter and energy and how it interact. Mayhap a independent questions concern a nature and severity of space and time, atoms and atomism, cosmology, the interpretation of the final result of quantum mechanics, the foundations of statistical mechanics, causality, determinism, and a nature and severity of physical laws. Classically, many one questions were exposed when a share of metaphysics (for example, victims just about causality, determinism, & space & instance). Now, a philosophy of natural philosophy is very more or less & a virtually all active subtopic in philosophy of science.

The importance of philosophy of physics

Albert Einstein was a ticket philosopher of physical science, & a as a consequence deuce quotes teach you two or three of the further significant reasons how come this subject noesis is significant.

"I fully agree with you about the significance and educational value of methodology as well as history and philosophy of science. So many people today - and even professional scientists - seem to me like somebody who has seen thousands of trees but has never seen a forest. A knowledge of the historic and philosophical background gives that kind of independence from prejudices of his generation from which most scientists are suffering. This independence created by philosophical insight is - in my opinion - the mark of distinction between a mere artisan or specialist and a real seeker after truth."

''"How does it happen that a properly endowed natural scientist comes to concern himself with epistemology? Is there no more valuable work in his specialty? I hear many of my colleagues saying, and I sense it from many more, that they feel this way. I cannot share this sentiment. ... Concepts that have proven useful in ordering things easily achieve such an authority over us that we forget their earthly origins and accept them as unalterable givens. Thus they come to be stamped as 'necessities of thought,' 'a priori givens,' etc.

The path of scientific advance is often made impassable for a long time through such errors. For that reason, it is by no means an idle game if we become practiced in analyzing the long-commonplace concepts and [in] exhibiting [examining? -Ed.] those circumstances upon which their justification and usefulness depend, how they have grown up, individually, out of the givens of experience. By this means, their all-too-great authority will be broken."

Subjects in the philosophy of physics

Philosophy of quantum mechanics Philosophy of space and time Philosophy of thermal and statistical physics

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Experiment in Physics
On the uses, value, and epistomelogy of experiment. By Allan Franklin, University of Colorado.

Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Crucial chapter from Kuhn's famous book outlining how sciences is forced to go through a paradigm-shift, and see the world in terms of a new theory and new concepts.

Philosophy and Foundations
A collection of links, from Norman Redington at MIT.

Identity and Individuality in Quantum Theory
Assesses the metaphysical implications of quantum theory by considering the impact of the theory on our understanding of objects as individuals with well defined identity conditions. From the Stanford Encyclopedia, by Steven French.

Philosophical Foundations of Physics by R. Carnap
Positivist view of Physics, which had influenced the Copenhagen Interpretation of the Quantum mechanics (CI).

Science, Pseudoscience and Society
Papers by Feynman on paranormal 'sciences', Sokal Affair (use of pseudo-physics in social sciences), critique of Kuhn. Also a collection of links.

Consciousness, Life and Meaning
Essay on evolution and consciousness by Piero Scaruffi.

Review of "The Emperor's New Mind", by Roger Penrose
His exploration is so much more serious philosophically than almost anything that has been done since Einstein and Schrodinger

Events in History of Physics
Time-lines of thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and symmetry. With links to other time-lines and resources.

Quantum Quackery
Skeptical overview of QM and consciousness connection.


Science: Math: Applications: Complex Systems
Science: Physics: History
Society: Philosophy: Metaphysics: Free Will and Determinism




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