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Rational Reconstructions of Modern Physics

  • Book
  • © 2013

Overview

  • It summarises and encapsulates the author's profound life work on the reconstruction of quantum theory and the theories of relativity.
  • The new material completes the picture developed in the first edition to the current state of knowledge
  • Shows in detail that in the light of rational reconstructions even realistic interpretations of the three theories of Modern Physics are possible and can easily be achieved
  • From reveiws of the first edition:"In conclusion, the book presents an intriguing argument that captures the reader both because of its scope and of the depth of the questions it raises." Metascience

Part of the book series: Fundamental Theories of Physics (FTPH, volume 174)

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Table of contents (6 chapters)

Keywords

About this book

Newton’s classical physics and its underlying ontology are loaded with several metaphysical hypotheses that cannot be justified by rational reasoning nor by experimental evidence. Furthermore, it is well known that some of these hypotheses are not contained in the great theories of Modern Physics, such as the theory of Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics. This book shows that, on the basis of Newton’s classical physics and by rational reconstruction, the theory of Special Relativity as well as Quantum Mechanics can be obtained by partly eliminating or attenuating the metaphysical hypotheses. Moreover, it is shown that these reconstructions do not require additional hypotheses or new experimental results.

In the second edition the rational reconstructions are completed with respect to General Relativity and Cosmology. In addition, the statistics of quantum objects is elaborated in more detail with respect to the rational reconstruction of quantum mechanics. The new material completes the approach of the book as much as it is possible at the present state of knowledge.
Presumably, the most important contribution that is added to the second edition refers to the problem of interpretation of the three great theories of Modern Physics. It is shown in detail that in the light of  rational reconstructions even realistic interpretations of the three theories of Modern Physics are possible and can easily be achieved.

Authors and Affiliations

  • Inst. Theoretische Physik, Universität Köln, Köln, Germany

    Peter Mittelstaedt

About the author

Prof. Dr. Peter Mittelstaedt is emeritus professor at the University of Cologne. His main research fields are Foundations of Quantum Theory, Relativity Theory, Philosophy of Science and Logic. He has published various books with Springer: "Laws of Nature" (2005, together with P.A. Weingartner), "The Quantum Theory of Measurement" (1996, together with P. Busch and P.J. Lahti) and "Quantum Logic" (1978).
Dr. Kristina Engelhard edited this 2nd enlarged edition of the book by Prof. P. Mittelstaedt. She obtained her PhD in Philosophy at the University of Cologne with a thesis entitled "The Simple and Matter. Inquiries into Kant’s Antinomy of Division" and she is currently Research and Teaching Assistant at the Philosophy Department of the University of Cologne (Germany).

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