The Laboratory of the Mind: Thought Experiments in the Natural Sciences

by James Robert Brown

Book Overview

Thought experiments are performed in the laboratory of the mind. Beyond this metaphor it is difficult to say just what these remarkable devices for investigating nature are or how they work. Though most scientists and philosophers would admit their great importance, there has been very little serious study of them. This volume is the first book-length investigation of thought experiments.
Starting with Galileo's argument on falling bodies, Brown...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0415095794
• ISBN13: 9780415095792
• Release Date: April 1993
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Easy Reading In Nice Conversational Style on Substantive Topics (quantum mechanics included)

The author is very easy to read. He uses a nice conversational style. Finally, style-wise, he has ebullient enthusiasm for his subject. The examples are good, but even better is the ease with which you will find yourself immersed in the philosophy of science and math. His explanation of the significance of Schrödinger's Cat is excellent. The explanation of what the orthodox Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics is really like -- and how it came about, and why it bugged people (Einstein for example) -- is probably the best thing in the book. I cannot resist quoting you one thing though: this is the only author of technical or philosophical discourse I have ever seen to use the verb "savour" -- something which is my whole philosophy of life; if there's something good (music or book), savour it I say. In my "about me" you can find that. Anyway, here's the quote from the author of this book: "since the examples are so exquisitely wonderful, we should want to savour them anyway, whether we have a sharp definition of thought experiment or not." (p. 1) -- 'a man after my own heart', as the expression goes. Incidentally, do open the "inside this book" -- you can get a good sense of the book even from a couple of pages. As far as the thought experiment examples, they're good, but what is really exquisitely wonderful is the author's writing & explanations.