The Tests of Time: Readings in the Development of Physical Theory
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"This excellent work collects a judiciously chosen group of writings on what are universally regarded as five of the most significant physical theories in the history of science. Each of the selections serves to place the development and significance of the physical theory in its historical setting as well as to shed light on important philosophical issues it raises. This is an extremely useful book that will be of benefit to anyone with an interest in the history and philosophy of science. I for one will certainly be using this volume as a source book for my courses in the history and philosophy of the physical sciences."—Martin Tamny, The City College and the Graduate Center, City University of New York"It is a pleasure to find an original addition to the small list of worthwhile books on the history and philosophy of natural science. The authors have done an excellent job assembling and organizing a selection of texts that can be used equally well at an elementary or more advanced level. No other anthology combines breadth and accuracy so well."—Stephen Toulmin, University of Southern California"This book is the result of an ambitious educational project to teach students by having them study original scientific texts selected with pedagogical shrewdness. It makes it possible for students to engage in actual scientific thinking and to do this almost entirely without mathematics and in the intellectual presence of great and imaginative creative scientists. There is no other work like it, and it has great appeal."—Robert S. Cohen, Boston University Choice [A] very attractive collection. . . . A delight to browse and a useful assignment in any course in undergraduate physics, philosophy, or history of science.
PrefaceAcknowledgmentsPhilosophical Introduction: Philosophy of Science and Physical TheoryPt. IThe Heliocentric Theory11The Physical Foundation for the Geocentric Universe132An Early Version of Heliocentrism263The Case for Geocentrism294First Thoughts on Heliocentrism385The Heliocentric Theory426The Supernova of 1572667Observational Evidence against the Aristotelian Cosmology698The Sun as the Source of Planetary Motions709Telescopic Observations in Support of Copernicus8110The Superiority of the Copernican System9911The Coherence of the Copernican Theory10912The Physical Foundations of Heliocentrism11413The Discovery of Stellar Parallax128Pt. IIElectromagnetic Field Theory1311The Properties of Magnets1452The Law of Electric Force1513The Effect of a Current of Electricity on a Magnetic Needle1534A Positivist Approach to Electromagnetism1575The Particle Theory of Light1626The Wave Theory of Light1677The Vindication of the Wave Theory of Light1798The Transverse Nature of Light Waves2019Electromagnetic Induction20910The Concept of an Electromagnetic Field21411The Theory of the Electromagnetic Field22412The Electromagnetic Theory of Light23213The Medium for Electromagnetic Action23514The Production of Electromagnetic Waves245Pt. IIIThe Theory of Relativity2531The Ether2652The Ether and Optical Experiments2733The Contraction Hypothesis2854The Contraction Hypothesis2865A Prelude to Relativity2896The Postulates of the Special Theory of Relativity2997The Space-Time Continuum3048The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity3089The Ramifications of the Special and General Theories of Relativity31310The Bending of Light Rays33011Ether and Relativity34012Later Comments on General Relativity34713E = MC[superscript 2]350Pt. IVQuantum Theory357Historical and Conceptual Development3711The Quantum Hypothesis3732The Photon3803The Quantum Character of the Atom3834The Wave Nature of the Electron3875Complementarity and the New Quantum Theory3926The Debate with Einstein4067Response to Bohr4328A Brief History of Quantum Theory4379The Copenhagen Interpretation44610The Fundamental Idea of Wave Mechanics45411Are There Quantum Jumps?46512The Conceptual Difficulties of Quantum Theory47213Observer-Created Reality484The Completeness Debate49314The EPR Paradox49515The Argument for Incompleteness50116Response to EPR50717The Hidden Variables Hypothesis51518Comment on the Hidden Variables Hypothesis52619A Conceptual Analysis of the EPR Thought Experiment of David Bohm53220Philosophical Reflections on the Completeness Debate540Pt. VBig Bang Cosmological Theory5451Variables in the Magellanic Clouds5562The Variability-Luminosity Relationship5593The Radial Velocity of the Andromeda Nebula5614The Discovery of the Red Shift of Nebulae5645The Measurement of Great Distances5676Relativity and Cosmology5737The Structure of the Universe5928The Velocity-Distance Relation6029The Expanding Universe61110The Beginning of Big Bang Cosmology62511The Discovery of Background Radiation64012An Explanation of the Penzias and Wilson Discovery64213The Cosmic Microwave Radiation Background64614The Inflationary Universe65215Wrinkles in Time66616The Edge of Spacetime677Epilogue685Physical Theory: Present and Future685Sources of the Readings693Index of Names699Index of Concepts707Permissions Acknowledgments709
