Time: Its Structure and Role in Physical Theories
Published on 13. October 2011
Book
Paperback/Softback
XXIV, 227 pages
978-94-009-6524-9 (ISBN)
Description
This book on the structure and role of time in physical theories addresses itself to scientists and philosophers intereste:'i in the 'no man's lard' between science and philosophy, in particular between physics and philoso- phy. The p:lint of departure is physical time, Le. time as usErl 1:[yen] physicists in their theories; but the analysis is not oonfined to a purely physical level but caries the problem into the domain of philosophical in- quiry. Altoough the book presupp:lses some knowledge of physics, I have avoided, wherever p:lssible, the use of advanced mathematics and technical details. Of all the people woo have been of help in writing this book, I w:>uld first of all like to mention Paul Scheurer and Guy Debrock who were my primary mentors in science and philosophy. This sttrly is a revision of my dissertation [Kroes 1982a] which I wrote under the stimulating guidance of Scheurer; many of the ideas ex- posed here have their origin in his w:>rk and were developErl in frequent discussions with him. Guy Debrock not only stimulated my interest in philosophy but also made valuable suggestions.
Witoout any overstatement, I dare say that without their assistence, this book w:>uld never have been written. Furthernore, I w:>uld like to thank D. Dieks, J.J.C.
Witoout any overstatement, I dare say that without their assistence, this book w:>uld never have been written. Furthernore, I w:>uld like to thank D. Dieks, J.J.C.
More details
Series
Edition
Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1985
Language
English
Place of publication
Dordrecht
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Illustrations
XXIV, 227 p.
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 155 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
394 gr
ISBN-13
978-94-009-6524-9 (9789400965249)
DOI
10.1007/978-94-009-6522-5
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
12/2012
Springer
€96.29
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Book
12/1984
Kluwer Academic Publishers
€106.99
Shipment within 15-20 days
Content
I. Physical time and the problem of its structure.- I.1 Introduction.- I.2 The order structure of time.- I.3 The topological structure of time.- I.4 The metrical structure of time.- I.5 Conclusion.- Notes.- II. The geometrical nature of physical time: parameter time and coordinate time.- II.1 Introduction.- II.2 Parameter and coordinate.- II.3 Parameter and coordinate time in Newtonian physics.- II.4 Parameter and coordinate time in Einsteinian physics.- II.5 The geometrical nature of time in quantum mechanics.- II.6 Translation of the space and time into the spacetime formalism and vice versa.- II.7 The geometrical nature of time and dynamics.- II.8 Parameter versus coordinate time in the study of time; some philosophical issues.- Notes.- III. Time asymmetry.- III.1 Arrow of time: time asymmetry and time flow.- III.2 Time asymmetry.- III.3 (Ir)reversibility and the time reversal operator T*.- III.4 Time asymmetry and temporal orientability.- Notes.- IV. Thermodynamical time asymmetry and the second law of phenomenological thermodynamics.- IV. 1 Introduction.- IV. 2 The mechanical program.- IV. 3 The thermodynamical program.- IV. 4 Discussion.- Notes.- Epilogue.- Name index.