Re: Physics and philosophy

From: Andy Resnick (axr67_at_op.cwru.edu)
Date: 12/10/04 

Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 09:10:23 -0500

Martin Johansen wrote:

>Hello people
>
>Which philosopher has the most influence on post-1900 physics?
>
>Works on physics seldom state their philosophic foundation of their
>theories.
>
>Some theories which comes to mind are:
>Rationalism: Physics ought to be derived from axioms
>Subjectivism: Your mind creates the physical laws and they may change at
>will
>Intrinsicism: God creates the world and all its laws
>Objectivism: Reality is independant of your mind, and reality, with all its
>existants, have identity
>
>Any ideas of which ought to be used?
>
>Thanks.
>

As I understand it, philosophy changed radically after Locke. Once
Locke showed (quite conclusively) that causality cannot be derived from
a more fundamental principle, philosophers tended to be more interested
in "human studies" rather than foundational issues for physical
sciences: witness Schopenhauer, Neitzche, Hume, Hobbes, Derrida, etc. etc.

Karl Popper had some interesting things to say about the structure of
physical theories and logical systems, as did Kurt Godel and Bertrand
Russel, and Wittenstein. Wittenstein's texts are even written in the
style of a formal proof. 

-- 
Andrew Resnick, Ph.D.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
CWRU School of Medicine
tanspose 'op' for mail

Relevant Pages

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