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Physics as a Way of Thinking (1936) [pdf]
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- dest 10y agoa tldr would be welcome
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- f00_ 10y agoc+p of 252-253: "The world of physics is then," as Planck says, "a deliberate hypothesis put forth by a finite mind in an attempt to reduce the facts of observation to a system based on certain physical principles such that known phenomena are necessary consequences of the system." The basic principles are chosen on experimental grounds. Whether they are true or false in the absolute sense is not a pertinent question. Their consequences must agree with nature. They are working hypotheses which are to be discarded whenever they cease to be effective or helpful. Progress means bringing new sets of observations with the system in a way to give a complete mathematical description of physical phenomena in terms of the fewest principles or entities, that is to find in a variety of physical phenomena essential relations from which future phenomena can be predicted. Physics is thus a result of our quest for order and harmony among physical phenomena. It is man's best attempt to think vigorously whatever permits of vigorous thinking. It is not fixed but is subject to change and evolution. Whatever comes out must go back to enrich the soil from which it came I think it's worth the full read, 20 pages of pretty good physics history
- dest 10y agoThank you.
- killjoywashere 10y agoProfessor Smith was, at the time of the publication of this essay (in the Ohio State University's law journal), midway through a 20-year span as chairman of the Ohio State physics department. He basically works his way through history to demonstrate the development of the modern experimental method and extrapolates that society would be best served by extending the scientific method to many more aspects of society (social and cultural issues, etc).
- neutralid 10y agoProf. Smith describes how social sciences could benefit from the modern, coordinate-free approach in physics. He also wishes for a tighter coupling in social sciences as we've seen historically with physics (theory) and engineering (practice). Interesting article.
- theoh 10y agoI only skimmed the article but I didn't see the word "coordinate" mentioned. When you say "coordinate-free" do you mean "independent of any fixed frame of reference"? Because AIUI coordinate-free actually means something else, it's really just a mathematical detail: the choice to work with vectors as first-class objects rather than arrays of coordinates. It's a question of elegance rather that meaning. Given the date of this article, the history of the Technocracy movement may be relevant to those who find these ideas appealing.
- neutralid 10y ago> When you say "coordinate-free" do you mean "independent of any fixed frame of reference"? Yes. Einstein's field equation can be derived using differential geometry, e.g. a coordinate-free approach. Prof. Smith discusses the evolution from egocentric (early Greek) to absolute fixed-frame (Newtonian) to coordinate-free (relativistic).
- theoh 10y agoAs thanatropism said, "coordinate-free" is not synonymous with (Einsteinian) relativity. It's a general mathematical approach, and it doesn't have any philosophical consequences that I'm aware of. Just because spacetime is a curved manifold doesn't mean it can't be dealt with using coordinates in a higher space in which it is embedded.
- neutralid 10y agoSometimes, symmetry reductions become easier using a coordinate-free approach. This means that you could better determine invariances in the system without having a bias towards a particular coordinate system. Philosophically, finding commonality in systems is powerful and any bias (coordinates) distorts those commonalities making them harder to perceive. From the article, I inferred that finding coordinate-free approaches in social sciences could be fruitful.