Philosophy Definition and 340 Threads

I assume there is no single right philosophy-of-physics (p-o-p) doctrine. No pretended philosophical "high ground". PoP is an academic subject--there are conferences and workshops. There is a fat two-volume Handbook of Phil. of Phys. published by North Holland Press. Courses are taught, seminars...

The announcement and discussion thread is here. Please also read page 2 of the applicable rules. https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=459349

So I actually received an Amazon Kindle for Christmas this year and I was wondering if anyone knew some must-buys in Math or Physics for the Kindle. The more I thought about this, I wondered if making a thread full of must-have ebooks for the Kindle. Not just for my own personal use, but for the...

To whom it may concern, I am looking for any articles on the uses of the preposition "of" in mathematics. I once read in a teacher's edition of a pre-algebra textbook that suggested students should be taught, as early as possible, the many uses of the preposition "of" in mathematics, but I...

I would be most gratified if someone learned in Physics would explain Physicists' point of view on the question of the Universe's origin in the following philosophical context: It seems to me that to avoid infinite regress it is necessary at some point in the causal chain to posit...

hi everyone-- for the philosophy of science course, I am planning to write a paper, and wanted to hear opinions about my topic. I am not a philosophy student (math&physics), and haven't taken that much of philosophy courses, so I can't go real deep about any subject, but I want to apply what...

Hi everyone, this is my first post here, and I felt like this thread may break the ice and to share my research and academic interests. Abstract: I'm currently a sophomore in high school, and I've always had an interest in physics since I was in about sixth grade. Now, since I'm taking a...

According to Quantum Physics (or at least my understanding of it), when a particle is not observed it doesn't exist in the way one imagines is to be. Instead, it is a wave function with infinite possibilities (sum-over histories by Feynman), and only when observed it takes on a definite state...

Objectivism deserves its own thread. For those of you who don't yet know, Objectivism is the philosophy of reason, and it includes metaphysics, epistemology, ethics and politics. If one recognizes the supremacy of reason and applies it consistently, the following follows: Metaphysics...

That's why science degrees are called "PhD," which means doctor of philosophy. Comment?

Has anyone here majored in physics as an undergrad and switched to philosophy as a graduate student? Thanks

I'm almost done with my major, but I don't have enough time to pick up another. I have about 5 semesters left. Do I need to be a science major in order to be admitted into a M.Eng program? If not, is there a general list of undergraduate courses that needs to be completed? Maybe someone can give...

I am part way through a BSc in natural sciences with open university,its going well and I am enjoying the course (in my second year) I had for a long time wanted to carry straight on with physics into an MSc or PHD,but over the last year I've become increasingly interested with the philosophy...

I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for a philosophy forum, in particular one where ethics is discussed -- theoretical ethics rather than bioethics or other applied ethics.

In my philosophy course it says: (translating it into English, don't mind typo's) Isn't this very wrong? If you only had the particles (H's and O's) and were able to analyze the force fields around them, wouldn't you perfectly be able to predict that there would be something as a liquid as a...

Rule 1) Absolutely no religious references, only spiritual and philosophical Rule 2) God may be discussed in this thread Rule 3) God is not a person, physical being, or anything with any type of anthropomorphic traits for the purpose of this discussion (i.e. does not talk and certainly does...

Hello, I'm wondering what the reason for repeat linear factors in partial fractions is? I can't find an explanation online, they all just say do it!* I kind of understand why \frac{A}{x + 2} + \frac{B}{(x + 2)^2} can turn into ; \frac{6x + 7}{(x + 2)^2} Is there any...

I once joked with a certain member here about getting hammered one night and polluting the philosophy forum with wacky topics. I think there's a wealth of material from popular music: 1) Every rose has its thorn. Discuss. 2) What are words for? (When no one listens anymore.) 3) All we are is...

Dear all, could you please suggest me books on philosophy and interpretation of quantum mechanics?? Kindest regards. Goldbeetle

Can anyone tell me how a constructivist philosopher would view concepts in classical thermodynamics, say like the state variables pressure, temperature, internal energy, and entopy? I read in Wikipedia that "Constructivists maintain that scientific knowledge is constructed by scientists and...

The need for philosophers in science.The greats. The greatest of the greats. Einstein, Lorentz, Darwin, Maxwell, Newton, Galileo, Aristotle. A girlfriend once used to say how much she admired the 1920’s when “men knew how to be men, and women knew how to dress.” We could probably say the same...

Over the last few weeks, I have been participating in a few discussions with tea party members. Although we never came to any agreements (Apparently, I'm a liberal communist Nazi freedom-hating socialist), there was an interesting trend to our discussions. In any discussion of sufficient...

I wrote a response in a thread entitled "What is the single most important thing for life to exist in the universe?" . I thought about it some more and I am wondering if this paradox is scientifically sound or is it just crazy philosophers taking physics and making into voodoo science. I hope...

"Quantum philosophy" I am searching for a book that analyses the philosophical aspects arising from quantum theory like EPR paradox, Bell's theorem, Heisenberg's uncertainty principle etc etc. Do you have anything in mind?

Science is independent of philosophy, however, Theoretical Physics is not JUST a science and sometimes philosophical arguments are employed. I have noticed that, although I do independent philosophy, I have never studied formal philosophy. Can any of you recommend me a book on philosophy...

Does the 'Pauli exclusion principle' imply that the universe is only finitely creative? It's rather the philosophy than the physics behind it, I'm interested in. I just wanted to be sure I was interpreting this principle correctly. I thought it meant that there are only a discrete amount of...

I'm wondering who out there in physics world might believe that there's still some philosophy involved with physics? Quantum physics can explain gravity, right? General Relativity doesn't include Planck's Constant? Are we missing something mathematical, philosophical... any thoughts? And...

Hello all, I'm in a little bit of a personal dilemma. I'm going to be going into my second semester at a mid-size state university, and i'd really love to study philosophy as well as physics. My ultimate goal is to go to grad school after obtaining my undergrad. However, I feel that if i...

Topic says all I'm asking. Are there are any definites in philosophy?

There would not be philosophy if it were not for philosophers?

I'm not sure if this is the right area to ask about this, so feel free to move the topic if it's not. I'm interested in learning a little more about metaphysics and its application in philosophy. Where should I start reading. I'm trying to stay away from Aristotle and get a little more of a...

Anarchism is the philosophy of a stateless society without a political order. Nevertheless, it seems to be associated with elements of the far Left, not the far Right which has historically been associated with a strong authoritarian state often termed "Fascist". Here's Mussolini's popular...

To love wisdom? What is wisdom? To know when to keep your mouth shut? Not to ask stupid questions?

In order to promote the informed discussion of philosophy, I thought it might help if we could all be on the same page on some of the issues, literally. I would like to invite suggestions on relatively accessible philosophy texts that we could read and discuss. What issues have been on your...

hey, my question is, do you know how many philosophers of science actually studied science? is it important to study science or can i get a long with philosophy and learn from the internet, for example, physics? i prefer not study physics because the math involved and most principles i can read...

Admit it, the subject is interesting. I have my own "theories" about it, but can you recommend me a book?

Anyone know any good introductory philosophy books? Unfortunately, all the intro to Philosophy courses at my university are closed until next year. I'm an engineering major, which practically has nothing to do with this. However, I find myself highly interested, or at least intrigued, by...

Weinberg's “Against Philosophy” Philosophy is useless for Scientists and the only positive thing that can be said about it, is, that it protects us from even worse philosophy. :devil: Read and comment: http://depts.washington.edu/ssnet/Weinberg_SSN_1_14.pdf" I hope you have heard of the...

Does anyone know of work on the philosophy of information? I am thinking along the lines of on abstraction and the related question about reality especially of mathematics? Kant was wrong, Plato not deep enough, Wittgenstein wants to make it a language problem. There must be something more current.

At what point does, i.e crossing the line make physics more philosophy than physics? i've never had any philosophical education nor been interested in anything english related, but one of my friends keeps saying that's more of a philosophy than physics when i show him some of my ideas to do...

Hi, My first time on this forum found you when i was googling :biggrin: I wanted to know if i have to take Philosophy if i am studying Teaching Secondary Biology. I have to choice in this group to register for the next term of school here is a list Cinema Appreciation A survey of World...

I was looking for some sugestions for books to read on philosophy, any good books out there?

So I am taking like this new cs class offered at my school and it like infuses postmodernistic philosophy into the course as we go along. So we are reading **** by Voltaire, watching not just terminator 1 but the far superior terminator 2, the matrix 1 of course the rest you can just...

when was it drawn? Obviously scientists utilize philosophy and philosophers utilize science. But at one time, we didn't separate the two at all. How did it happen? Was it a gradual change or did it happen over a short period of time? Was there any particular influences?

What is a field? Say, a velocity field or an electromagnetic field. How we actually define a field? I think the most precise definition is mathematical: a set of numbers associated with each point that can describe some physical properties on that point, namely, a function with respect to space...

Hi everyone, I just wanted to let you know about this new addition the Philosophy Forum guidelines. https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=47294 The intent is not to become obnoxiously strict "grammar police" here, but to create standards that will facilitate communication. We have...

hi to all i read stuff on theoretical physics especially GUT's and also read littlephilosophy but i keep wondering why is it that people even study these things when we all know that they will have close to zero applications in the real world. also money is spent on all these things like the...

I am currently taking Philosophy and Physics together. Focusing on the philosophy of physics and metaphysics. Eventually I want to work in either materials, quantum or in particle physics. I want to get an honors degree in both subjects, or combine them some how. To get my masters, is there...

I was wondering if anyone could help me out about trig identities. I'm a HS trig teacher and I'm going "by the books" and instructing them to manipulate the left and right sides of the identity independently of each other. They are not to treat it like an equation, e.g. no moving terms from...

I came across an interesting discussion about LQG's philosophy (through Googling "Cauchy surface" and "loop quantum gravity"): Approaching the Planck Scale From a Relativistic Point of View: A Philosophical Appraisal of Loop Quantum Gravity Christian Wüthrich...