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For protophysics, the fascinating and impressive constructive re-establish ment of the foundations of science by Professor Paul Lorenzen, working with his colleagues and students of the Erlangen School, no task is more central than to.furmulate a theoretical understanding of the practical art of measurement of time. We are pleased, therefore, to have a new third edition of Peter Janich's masterful monograph on the protophysics of time, available in this English translation within the Boston Studies. We also look forward to the Boston University Symposium on protophysics in april of this year within which the full program of protophysics will be critically examined by German and American physicists and philosophers, supporters and critics. We are also grateful to Paul Lorenzen for contributing his powerful instructive essay on the 'axiomatic and constructive method' which intro duces this book. March 1985 ROBERT S. COHEN Center for the Philosophy and History of Science Boston University MARX W. WARTOFSKY Department of Philosophy Barnch College City University of New York vii PAUL LORENZEN CONSTRUCTIVE AND AXIOM A TIC METHOD Mathematics is like a big building with many apartments. We have at least Arithmetic and Analysis, Algebra and Topology - and we have Geometry and Probability-Theory. Very often the tenants of these different apartments seem not to understand each other. The Bourbaki movement promised a new unity of Mathematics by admit ting only the axiomatic method of Hilbert as genuine mathematical.
List of contents
I / On the Problem of Chronometry in the Present-Day Theory of Science.- 1. Introduction: Establishment of a Reference to Known Positions in the Theory of Science.- 2. Affirmative Theory of Science and the Language of Physics.- 3. The Affirmative Theory of Measurement.- 4. Affirmative Explanations of the Choice of the Time Standard.- II / On the Method of Physics.- 1. Preliminary Remarks.- 2. Method as a Validity Criterion. On the Foundational Theory of Hugo Dingler.- 3. Logic and Protophysics. On the Foundational Theory of Paul Lorenzen.- 4. On the Method of Physics.- 5. On the Criticism of Protophysics.- III / Chronometry.- 1. What Purpose Shall Time-Measurement Serve?.- 2. Moved Bodies.- 3. Comparisons of Motion.- 4. Forms of Motion.- IV / On a History of Chronometry.- 1. Preliminary Remarks: Terminological Distinction of Practical and Theoretical Chronometry.- 2. The Development of Chronology.- 3. Short History of the Water Clock.- 4. Short History of Mechanical Escapement Clocks.- 5. The Principles of Clock Construction.- 6. Time Theories.- Notes.- References.- Name Index.
