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  • © 2017

David Bohm: Causality and Chance, Letters to Three Women

Editors:

  • Illuminates a crucial period (1950-56) in David Bohm's intellectual development

  • Reveals the background, scientific, philosophical and political to David Bohm's book Causality and Chance in Modern Physics

  • Bears witness to the vital intellectual and emotional support that David Bohm received from three women in the 1950-56 period

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (33 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
  2. Introduction

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1
    2. Introduction

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 3-4
    3. Bohm After Brazil

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 9-12
    4. Introduction to the Letters

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 19-21
    5. Bohm on Mathematics

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 39-42
    6. Development of the Causal Interpretation

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 43-48
    7. Bohm and Feminism

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 63-65
    8. Bohm and Politics

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 67-76
    9. The USSR, Philosophy and Science

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 77-88
    10. A “Precious Being” in Adversity

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 89-95
  3. The Letters

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 97-98
    2. Letters to Hanna Loewy, 1950

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 99-114
    3. Letters to Melba Phillips, 1952

      • Chris Talbot
      Pages 145-160

About this book

The letters transcribed in this book were written by physicist David Bohm to three close female acquaintances in the period 1950 to 1956. They provide a background to his causal interpretation of quantum mechanics and the Marxist philosophy that inspired his scientific work in quantum theory, probability and statistical mechanics. In his letters, Bohm reveals the ideas that led to his ground breaking book Causality and Chance in Modern Physics. The political arguments as well as the acute personal problems contained in these letters help to give a rounded, human picture of this leading scientist and twentieth century thinker.

Reviews

“I recommend David Bohm: Causality and Chance, Letters to Three Women to those who are already familiar with Bohm’s life and work, as Talbot’s edition offers a great chance to deepen one’s knowledge.” (Christian Forstner, Isis, Vol. 111 (1), March, 2020)

Editors and Affiliations

  • Oxford, United Kingdom

    Chris Talbot

About the editor

A lifelong socialist, Chris Talbot has a PhD in General Relativity. He lectured in mathematics at the University of Huddersfield, researching in Engineering Mathematics. Now retired he has returned to work on the early letters of David Bohm whom he greatly admired as a student with an interest in Marxist philosophy.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access