ABOUT THIS BOOK

The revolution involving the foundations of the physical sciences heralded by relativity and quantum theories has been stimulating philosophers for many years. Both of these comprehensive sets of concepts have involved profound challenges to traditional theories of epistemology, ontology, and language. This volume gathers six experts in physics, logic and philosophy to discuss developments in space exploration and nuclear science and their impact on the philosophy of science.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Robert G. Colodny was professor of history at the University of Pittsburgh, and the editor of numerous books on philosophy of science including: The Nature and Function of Scientific Theories: Essays in Contemporary Science and Philosophy; Paradigms and Paradoxes: The Philosophical Challenges of the Quantum Domain; and Mind and Cosmos: Essays in Contemporary Science and Philosophy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

15. Digression: The Representation of Probabilities

Preface

Introduction

Some Conceptual Problems of Quantum Theory

Philsosphical Implications of Contemporary Particle Physics

The Physics of Logic

1. Introduction

2. The Classical Conception of Physical Reality Vis-a-vis Quantum Theory

3. The Character of Einstein's Objections to Quantum Theory

4. The EPR Objection

5. The Arguments of EPR

6. Three Varieties of Reply to EPR

7. EPR and Physics

8. Introduction

9. Bohr's Philosophy of Quantum Phenomena

10. Bohr's Reply to EPR

11. Digression: Misunderstandign Bohr's Reply to EPR

12. Bohr's Doctrine: Further Elaboration

13. Prospect for a Bohrian Approach to Quantum Reality

14. Critique of the Bohrian Approach

15. Conclusion

Postscript

Appendices

A Formal Aproach to the Philosophy of Science

1. Formalization of Theories

2. Montague on Deterministic Theories

3. Suppes on Theories as Definitions

4. The State-Space Approach

5. Evolution of States: Isolated Systems

6. Evolution of Interacting Systems

7. Statistical Theories

8. The Problem of Measurement

9. The Pragmatics of Measurement

10. The Naive Account of Measurement Problem

11. Mathematical Description of the Measureing Process

12. Challenges to the Ignorance Interpretation of Mixtures

13. Proposed Solutions to the Measurement

14. A Modal Interpretation of Mixtures

16. The Modal Interpretation Implemented

17. The Pragmatics of Measurement Continued

18. The Modal Interpretation Improved

19. Conclusion

On the Cenceptual Structure of Quantum Mechanics

Index of Names

Index of Topics

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