Cushing J.T. Philosophical Concepts in Physics: The Historical Relation between Philosophy and Scientific Theories

Cambridge University Press, 1998, 448 pages, ISBN: 052157823X, 0521570719This book examines a selection of philosophical issues in the context of specific episodes in the development of physical theories. Advances in science are presented against the historical and philosophical backgrounds in which they occurred. A major aim is to impress upon the reader the essential role that philosophical considerations have played in the actual practice of science.The book begins with some necessary introduction to the history of ancient and early modern science, with major emphasis being given to the two great watersheds of twentieth-century physics: relativity and, especially, quantum mechanics. At times the term 'construction' may seem more appropriate than 'discovery' for the way theories have developed and, especially in the later chapters, the question of the influence of historical, philosophical and even social factors on the very form and content of scientific theories is discussed.Philosophical Concepts in Physics discusses advances in science against the historical and
philosophical backgrounds in which they occurred. Readers are given an opportunity to reflect
upon the nature of a scientific enterprise that they may previously have come to know only
from the perspective of traditional accounts of science or retrospectively from course work in
the sciences. A major goal is to impress upon the reader the essential and ineliminable role
that philosophical considerations have played in the actual practice of science and in the
construction of scientific theories.Scientific knowledge, because of its putative certainty and objective method of discovery,
is often seen as being essentially different from other types of knowledge. As popularly
understood, physics and philosophy might seem about as far removed from each other as two
intellectual disciplines could be. However, this book illustrates the formative mutual influences
that physics and philosophy have had, and continue to have, on each other. The discussion of
central philosophical issues is anchored in the specific historical context and in the actual
content of relevant scientific activity.Some necessary introduction to the history of ancient and early modern science is presented
first, but major emphasis is given to the watersheds of twentieth century physics: namely
relativity and, especially, quantum mechanics. The reader is assumed to have some background
in elementary classical physics, but no knowledge of relativity or quantum mechanics is
assumed.The book will be of particular interest to science, engineering, philosophy and general
humanities students who have had an introductory course in physics, to scientists with an
interest in the relation of philosophy to physics and to philosophers of science. It could also
be used as a text in a junior/senior level undergraduate course in the philosophy of science.