The Quest for Reality - Bohr and Wittgenstein - Two Complementary Views

Zusatztext Stenholm! a theoretical physicist specialising in quantum optics! has a wide understanding of many of the philosophical issues that lie at the heart of the debate that surrounds the foundations of quantum theory. Informationen zum Autor Stig Stenholm has done distinguished work in quantum optics for 40 years, holding professorships and research positions at the universities of Stuttgart and Helsinki, at IBM Research Laboratory, San Jose, California and at the Optical Sciences Center, Tucson, Arizona, before his retirement from KTH Stockholm in 2004. He has received the Alexander von Humboldt Award, Germany, and the The Homén Prize in Physics from the Societas Scientiarum Fennica. Klappentext In both science and philosophy, the twentieth century saw a radical breakdown of certainty in the human worldview. Quantum theorist Stig Stenholm presents Bohr and Wittgenstein as central figures undertaking the necessary replacement of apparent order and certainty with an understanding based on limited concepts in constant flux. Zusammenfassung In both science and philosophy, the twentieth century saw a radical breakdown of certainty in the human worldview, as quantum uncertainty and linguistic ambiguity destroyed the comfortable certitudes of the past. As these disciplines form the foundation for a human position in the world, a major epistemological reorganization had to take place. In this book, quantum theorist Stig Stenholm presents Bohr and Wittgenstein, in physics and in philosophy, as centralfigures representing this revision. Each of them took up the challenge of replacing apparent order and certainty with a provisional understanding based on limited concepts in constant flux. Stenholm concludes that the modern synthesis created by their heirs is far from satisfactory, and the story is so faran unfinished one. The book will appeal to any researcher in either discipline curious about the foundation of modern science, and works to provoke a renewal of discussion, and the eventual emergence of a reformed clarity and understanding....

Product details

• Authors: Stig Stenholm, Stig (Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) Stenholm, Stenholm Stig
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.08.2011
• EAN: 9780199603589
• ISBN: 978-0-19-960358-9
• No. of pages: 296
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Chemistry > Physical chemistry; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / History & Surveys / Modern, PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, SCIENCE / Physics / Quantum Theory, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, Western philosophy from c 1800, Quantum physics (quantum mechanics & quantum field theory), Quantum physics (quantum mechanics and quantum field theory), Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Western Philosophy, From C 1900 -, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge