Observational Foundations of Physics - Softcover

Cook, Sir

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521455979 ISBN 13: 9780521455978

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2010

Synopsis

The central models of theoretical physics have been extraordinarily successful in describing and predicting the behaviour of physical systems under an enormous range of conditions. But why are these mathematical theories so successful, and how is their structure influenced by the nature of the observations on which they are inevitably based? This intriguing book examines these subtle and fundamental issues, and concludes with the assertion that successful prediction provides compelling support for belief in a world independent of the observer. Dealing with important and basic aspects of the general framework of physics, this book will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students in the physical sciences, and to anyone with an interest in the empirical and metaphysical foundations of science.

About this title

From the Back Cover

The central models of theoretical physics have been extraordinarily successful in describing and predicting the behavior of physical systems under an enormous range of conditions. But why are these mathematical theories so successful, and how is their structure influenced by the nature of the observations on which they are inevitably based? This intriguing book examines these subtle and fundamental issues, and investigates the complex interdependency of theory and experiment.Dealing with important and basic aspects of the general framework of physics, this book will appeal to undergraduate and graduate students in the physical sciences, and to anyone with an interest in the empirical and metaphysical foundations of science.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 0521455979
• ISBN 13: 9780521455978
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 180