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The Role of Mathematics in Physical Sciences

Interdisciplinary and Philosophical Aspects

  • Conference proceedings
  • © 2005

Overview

Editors:
  1. Giovanni Boniolo

    1. University of Padova, Italy

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  2. Paolo Budinich

    1. The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

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  3. Majda Trobok

    1. University of Rijeka, Croatia

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  • Contains both historical and philosophical analyses of the relationship between mathematics and physics

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Table of contents (15 papers)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-3
    Download chapter PDF

  2. The Role of Mathematics in Physical Sciences — Interdisciplinary and Philosophical Aspects

    • Giovanni Boniolo, Paolo Budinich, Majda Trobok
    Pages 5-8

  3. Mathematics and Physics: Reflecting on the Historical Role of Mathematics

    1. Oliver Heaviside’s “Dinner”

      • Giulio Giorello, Corrado Sinigaglia
      Pages 11-32

    2. Quantum Physics and Mathematical Debates Concerning the Problem of the Ontological Priority between Continuous Quantity and Discrete Quantity

      • Victor Gómez Pin
      Pages 33-42

    3. John von Neumann on Mathematical and Axiomatic Physics

      • Miklós Rédei
      Pages 43-54

    4. Classical Indian Mathematical Thought in the Context of the Theories of Matter and Mind

      • Navjyoti Singh
      Pages 55-72

  4. Mathematics and Physics: Reflecting on Their Interaction

    1. The Role of Mathematics in Physical Sciences and Dirac’s Methodological Revolution

      • Giovanni Boniolo, Paolo Budinich
      Pages 75-96

    2. Algorithmic Representation of Astrophysical Structures

      • Lucio Crivellari
      Pages 97-113

    3. The Flexibility of Mathematics

      • Dennis Dieks
      Pages 115-129

    4. The Laws of Nature and the Effectiveness of Mathematics

      • Mauro Dorato
      Pages 131-144

    5. Some Mathematical Aspects of Modern Science and Their Relevant Physical Implications

      • Giancarlo Ghirardi
      Pages 145-160

    6. Theoretical Explanations in Mathematical Physics

      • Andrés Rivadulla
      Pages 161-178

    7. Mathematics, Physics and Music

      • Zvonimir Šikić
      Pages 179-196

    8. Theoretical Mathematics

      • Michael Stöltzner
      Pages 197-222

  5. Final Remarks

    1. Mathematics and Physics

      • Vladimir I. Arnold
      Pages 225-233

    2. Values and Meaning in the Quantum Universe

      • Nikola Zovko
      Pages 235-244
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Keywords

About this book

Even though mathematics and physics have been related for centuries and this relation appears to be unproblematic, there are many questions still open: Is mathematics really necessary for physics, or could physics exist without mathematics? Should we think physically and then add the mathematics apt to formalise our physical intuition, or should we think mathematically and then interpret physically the obtained results? Do we get mathematical objects by abstraction from real objects, or vice versa? Why is mathematics effective into physics?

These are all relevant questions, whose answers are necessary to fully understand the status of physics, particularly of contemporary physics.

The aim of this book is to offer plausible answers to such questions through both historical analyses of relevant cases, and philosophical analyses of the relations between mathematics and physics.

Editors and Affiliations

  • University of Padova, Italy

    Giovanni Boniolo

  • The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy

    Paolo Budinich

  • University of Rijeka, Croatia

    Majda Trobok

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