Higher Speculations: Grand Theories and Failed Revolutions in Physics and CosmologyOxford University Press, 7. jan. 2011 - 416 síður Throughout history, people have tried to construct 'theories of everything': highly ambitious attempts to understand nature in its totality. This account presents these theories in their historical contexts, from little-known hypotheses from the past to modern developments such as the theory of superstrings, the anthropic principle, and ideas of many universes, and uses them to problematize the limits of scientific knowledge. Do claims to theories of everything belong to science at all? Which are the epistemic standards on which an alleged scientific theory of the universe - or the multiverse - is to be judged? Such questions are currently being discussed by physicists and cosmologists, but rarely within a historical perspective. This book argues that these questions have a history and that knowledge of the historical development of 'higher speculations' may inform and qualify the current debate on the nature and limits of scientific explanation. |
Aðrar útgáfur - View all
Higher Speculations: Grand Theories and Failed Revolutions in Physics and ... Helge Kragh Takmarkað sýnishorn - 2011 |
Higher Speculations: Grand Theories and Failed Revolutions in Physics and ... Helge Kragh Engin sýnishorn í boði - 2014 |
Higher Speculations: Grand Theories and Failed Revolutions in Physics and ... Helge Kragh Engin sýnishorn í boði - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
According anthropic principle anthropic reasoning appeared argued astronomers big bang Bondi bootstrap Boscovich Carter Chapter concept considered constants of nature controversy cosmic cosmological constant cosmological models cosmologists cosmology cosmophysics cyclic models density Descartes developed Dirac Dyson early Eddington Einstein ekpyrotic electron elementary particles empirical energy equations eternal ether example existence experimental experiments explain falsifiability field theory fine-structure constant galaxies gravitation hadronic Hoyle hypothesis idea infinite inflation inflationary interactions J. J. Thomson kind Kragh large number later laws of nature laws of physics loop quantum gravity mass mathematical mathematician Milne modern multiverse observations paper phenomena philosophical physical eschatology physical theory physicists Planck possible predictions problem proton quantum mechanics quantum theory relativistic S-matrix scenario scientific scientists sense space speculative speed of light steady-state theory string theory structure suggested superstrings supersymmetry Tegmark testable theorists theory of everything theory of relativity Thomson unified theory vortex theory world view