Philosophic Foundations of Quantum Mechanics

by Hans Reichenbach

Book Overview

Physics concerns direct analysis of the physical world, while philosophy analyzes knowledge about the physical world. This volume combines both disciplines for a philosophical interpretation of quantum physics -- an interpretation free from the imprecision of metaphysics, offering a view of the atomic world and its quantum mechanical results as concrete as the visible everyday world. Written by an internationally renowned philosopher who specialized...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0486404595
• ISBN13: 9780486404592
• Release Date: February 2011
• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The classic text on the philosophy of quantum mechanics

Reichenbach's book is a classic text, the first (I think) to focus on the philosophical aspects of quantum mechanics. Since it was written around the time that quantum mechanics was born, it does not deal with modern discussion on the subject. Reichenbach does solid work, however, and this is a valuable resource for anyone interested in these issues.The book has three sections. The first is an overview of his conclusions and the implications of quantum mechanics. This section is lucid and relatively non-technical, it should be intelligible to anyone. The second section is an in-depth technical introduction to the formalism of quantum mechanics. Anyone, if determined enough, could get through this part, though it's pretty hairy going for those without a formal background in physics or mathematics. In the last section, he reaches his conclusions and introduces a system of logic to deal with the truth value of propositions about quantum mechanics.