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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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.
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.
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Keywords
- Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics
- Einstein Synchronisation
- Leibniz Statistics
- Natanson Statistics
- Ontology of Classical Physics
- Orthomodular Quantum Logic
- Quantum Ontology
- Reconstruction Quantum Mechanics
- Reconstruction Special Relativity and Relativity Theory
- Reduction of Ontological Hypotheses
Table of contents (6 chapters)
Authors and Affiliations
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).
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Rational Reconstructions of Modern Physics
Authors: Peter Mittelstaedt
Series Title: Fundamental Theories of Physics
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5593-2
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
eBook Packages: Physics and Astronomy, Physics and Astronomy (R0)
Copyright Information: Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013
Hardcover ISBN: 978-94-007-5592-5Published: 29 May 2013
Softcover ISBN: 978-94-007-9570-9Published: 13 June 2015
eBook ISBN: 978-94-007-5593-2Published: 13 May 2013
Series ISSN: 0168-1222
Series E-ISSN: 2365-6425
Edition Number: 2
Number of Pages: XIV, 141
Topics: History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics, Philosophy of Science, Theoretical, Mathematical and Computational Physics