Heisenberg's 1958 Weltformel and the Roots of Post-Empirical Physics

This book presents the first detailed account of Werner Heisenberg's failed attempt to find a theory of everything in the autumn of his career. It further investigates what we can learn from his failure in relation to the search for a final theory of physics, an endeavour that continues to define research in fundamental physics to this day. Thereby it provides the first historically informed contribution to the current debate on post-empirical physics and the state of particle physics.

List of contents

Introduction.- The origins of Heisenberg's program.- Heisenberg Triumphant.- Reception and Rejection.- Conclusions.

About the author

Alexander S. Blum received a PhD in theoretical particle physics from the University of Heidelberg in 2009. He then moved to the history of science, joining the Max Planck Institute in Berlin in 2010. In 2018 he started his own Max Planck Research Group, entitled "Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program."

Summary

This book presents the first detailed account of Werner Heisenberg’s failed attempt to find a theory of everything in the autumn of his career. It further investigates what we can learn from his failure in relation to the search for a final theory of physics, an endeavour that continues to define research in fundamental physics to this day. Thereby it provides the first historically informed contribution to the current debate on post-empirical physics and the state of particle physics.

Product details

• Authors: Alexander Blum, Alexander S Blum, Alexander S. Blum
• Publisher: Springer, Berlin
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.01.2019
• EAN: 9783030206444
• ISBN: 978-3-0-3020644-4
• No. of pages: 66
• Dimensions: 154 mm x 5 mm x 236 mm
• Weight: 138 g
• Illustrations: VII, 66 p. 5 illus.
• Series: SpringerBriefs in History of Science and Technology
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > Physics, astronomy > General, dictionaries; Physik, C, Mathematische Physik, Teilchen- und Hochenergiephysik, Philosophy of Science, Physics, Theoretical, Mathematical and Computational Physics, Quantum physics (quantum mechanics & quantum field theory), Physics and Astronomy, Quantum field theory, Elementary particles (Physics), Elementary Particles, Quantum Field Theory, Philosophical Foundations of Physics and Astronomy, History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Mathematical physics, Philosophy and science, Unified Field Theory