This book contains interviews with physicists, biologists, and chemists who have been involved in some of the most exciting discoveries in modern scientific thought. The conversations-with Bohm, Pattee, Penrose, Rosen, Rosenfeld, Somorjai, Weizs???cker, Wheeler, and Nobel prizewinners Heisenberg, Dirac, and Prigogine-explore issues which have shaped modern physics and those which hint at what may form the next scientific revolution. The discussions range over a set of basic problems in physical theory and their possible ...
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This book contains interviews with physicists, biologists, and chemists who have been involved in some of the most exciting discoveries in modern scientific thought. The conversations-with Bohm, Pattee, Penrose, Rosen, Rosenfeld, Somorjai, Weizs???cker, Wheeler, and Nobel prizewinners Heisenberg, Dirac, and Prigogine-explore issues which have shaped modern physics and those which hint at what may form the next scientific revolution. The discussions range over a set of basic problems in physical theory and their possible solutions-the understanding of space and time, quantum and relativity theories and recent attempts to unite them-and deal with related questions in theoretical biology. The approach is non-technical, with an emphasis on the assumptions of modern science and their implications for understanding the world we live in. The book, which originated in a highly successful radio series, provides a vivid first-hand account of some of the astounding and perplexing developments in modern science, a rare overview that will intrigue the informed non-scientist and the scientist alike.
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In this little book, a number of 20th century physicists are questioned about their metaphysical ideas hiding beneath their achievements in theoretical physics.
The interviewers are well - prepared and competent. The main virtue of the book is to dwell well into the suppositions and philosophical presuppositions of the scientists interviewed. However, this is also its main drawback: interesting for the trained thinker, it is inaccessible for the layman, I think. A lot of pleminary
preparation would be needed in physics as well as
in the philosophy of science to fully have a grasp, hence have intellectual pleasure, of the book.