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In this volume of the Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, we present a collection of articles on philosophical issues in contemporary physics. The principal domain of these investigations is quantum physics. There are also articles on questions in classical mechanics (Hooker), and relativity theory (papapetrou and Stachel), as well as a monographic essay in evolutionary epistemology (yilmaz), applying the conceptual and mathematical understanding of special relativistic quantum field theory to set forth a theory of the evolution and adaptation of perceptual structures. Finally, in addition, there are two essays on classical issues in the philosophy of nature - one, on types of continuity (Capek), which suggests an analogy between the perceptual and the quantum domains; the other, on causality, the first translation into English of a minor classic in the philosophical understanding of modern physics, H. Berg man's well-known but little-read Der Kampf um das Kausalgesetz in der jiingsten Physik (Vieweg, Braunschweig, 1929). On the occasion of this publication, Professor Bergman has kindly contributed an introductory essay, 'Personal Remembrances of Albert Einstein'. Of the seven essays on quantum mechanics, four are on quantum logic (Marlow, Heelan, Bub and Demopoulos, Van Fraassen), the last being a critical survey of various current proposals for quantum logics; the re maining three (MacKinnon, Stachel and Van Fraassen) are concerned with both the formal issues and the ontological commitments of quantum physics.
Sommario
Perception and Philosophy Science.- (1) Nature of a Perceptual Theory.- (2) The Psychophysical Law.- (3) Perception of Light and Color.- (4) Perception of Voice and Music.- (5) Theory of Space and Time.- (6) Statistical Theory of Fields.- (7) The Problem of the Unity of Physics.- (8) Nature of a Physical Theory.- (9) A Theory of Psycho-social Evolution.- The Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics.- Defense of a Non-Conventionalist Interpretation of Classical Mechanics.- Comments on C. A. Hooker: Systematic Realism.- The Formal Representation of Physical Quantities.- Comments on 'The Formal Representation of Physical Quantities'.- Comments on 'The Formal Representation of Physical Quantities'.- The Labyrinth of Quantum Logics.- Ontic Commitments of Quantum Mechanics.- Comments on 'Ontic Commitments of Quantum Mechanics'.- Quantum Logic and Classical Logic: Their Respective Roles.- Implications of a New Axiom Set for Quantum Logic.- Two Types of Continuity.- General Relativity - Some Puzzling Questions.- Personal Remembrance of Albert Einstein.- The Controversy Concerning the Law of Causality in Contemporary Physics.- Topical Table of Contents.- (1) Causality.- (2) Relevance of Probability.- (3) Teleology in Physics?.- (4) Probability and Free Will.
