Philosophy and the Foundations of Dynamics

Lawrence Sklar (University of Michigan, Ann Arbor)

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English

Cambridge University Press
29 November 2012

Philosophy; Philosophy of science; Dynamics & statics

Although now replaced by more modern theories, classical mechanics remains a core foundational element of physical theory. From its inception, the theory of dynamics has been riddled with conceptual issues and differing philosophical interpretations and throughout its long historical development, it has shown subtle conceptual refinement. The interpretive program for the theory has also shown deep evolutionary change over time. Lawrence Sklar discusses crucial issues in the central theory from which contemporary foundational theories are derived and shows how some core issues (the nature of force, the place of absolute reference frames) have nevertheless remained deep puzzles despite the increasingly sophisticated understanding of the theory which has been acquired over time. His book will be of great interest to philosophers of science, philosophers in general and physicists concerned with foundational interpretive issues in their field.

By: Lawrence Sklar (University of Michigan Ann Arbor)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 247mm, Width: 174mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 580g
ISBN: 9780521716307
ISBN 10: 0521716306
Pages: 279
Publication Date: 29 November 2012
Audience: Professional and scholarly , College/higher education , Undergraduate , Primary
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction; 2. The prehistory of classical dynamics; 3. The astronomical revolution; 4. Precursors to Newtonian dynamics; 5. The Newtonian synthesis; 6. Philosophical aspects of the Newtonian synthesis; 7. The history of statics; 8. The development of dynamics after Newton; 9. The 'Newtonian' approach after Newton; 10. From virtual work to Lagrange's equation; 11. Extremal principles; 12. Some philosophical reflections on explanation and theory; 13. Conservation principles; 14. Hamilton's equations; 15. Canonical transformations, optical analogies and algebraic structures; 16. The search for new foundations; 17. New directions in the applications of dynamics; 18. Spacetime formulations of Newtonian dynamics; 19. Formalizations: mass and force; 20. Relationist dynamics; 21. Modes of explanation; 22. Retrospective and conclusions.

Lawrence Sklar is the Carl G. Hempel and William K. Frankena Distinguished University Professor at the University of Michigan. He is the author of Space, Time and Spacetime (1992), Philosophy of Physics (1992), Physics of Chance (Cambridge University Press, 1995) and Theory and Truth (2000).

Reviews for Philosophy and the Foundations of Dynamics

'This work could be as influential in the 21st century as Ernst Mach's Die Mechanik (1901) was in the 20th, both in physics and philosophy ... Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers/faculty.' P. D. Skiff, Choice