The Structure of Physics (Fundamental Theories of Physics)

Contents......Page 7
Editors' Preface......Page 10
Preface (1985)......Page 12
On Weizsäcker's philosophy of physics......Page 17
1.1 The question......Page 32
1.2 Outline......Page 33
Part I The unity of physics......Page 42
2.1 Preliminary......Page 43
2.2 Classical point mechanics......Page 46
2.3 Mathematical forms of the laws of nature......Page 58
2.4 Chemistry......Page 61
2.5 Thermodynamics......Page 63
2.7 Non-Euclidean geometry and semantic consistency......Page 65
2.8 The relativity problem......Page 67
2.9 Special theory of relativity......Page 71
2.10 General theory of relativity......Page 74
2.11 Quantum theory, historical......Page 81
2.12 Quantum theory, plan of reconstruction......Page 84
3.1 Probability and experience......Page 88
3.2 The classical concept of probability......Page 91
3.3 Empirical determination of probabilities......Page 95
3.4 Second quantization......Page 97
3.5 Methodological: Reconstruction of abstract quantum theory......Page 100
3.6 Reconstruction via probabilities and the lattice of propositions......Page 102
4.1 Concrete quantum theory......Page 109
4.2 Reconstruction of quantum theory via variable alternatives......Page 113
4.3 Space and time......Page 121
5.1 Open questions......Page 133
5.2 Representations in tensor space......Page 137
5.3 Quasiparticles in rigid coordinate spaces......Page 145
5.4 Model of quantum electrodynamics......Page 151
5.5 Elementary particles......Page 159
5.6 General theory of relativity......Page 168
6.1 Quantum theory of abstract binary alternatives and cosmology......Page 176
6.2 Ur-theoretic vacuum and particle states......Page 196
6.3 Relativistic particles......Page 202
6.4 Outlook......Page 204
Part II Time and information......Page 206
7.1 Irreversibility as problem......Page 207
7.2 A model of irreversible processes......Page 213
7.3 Documents......Page 220
7.4 Cosmology and the theory of relativity......Page 227
8.1 The systematic place of the chapter......Page 236
8.2 What is information?......Page 237
8.4 Information and probability......Page 240
8.5 Evolution as growth of potential information......Page 243
8.6 Pragmatic information: Novelty and confirmation......Page 254
8.7 Biological preliminaries to logic......Page 259
Part III On the interpretation of physics......Page 265
9.1 About the history of the interpretation......Page 266
9.2 The semantic consistency of quantum theory......Page 283
9.3 Paradoxes and alternatives......Page 299
10.1 The quest for substance......Page 319
10.2 The stream of information in quantum theory......Page 322
10.3 Mind and form......Page 328
11.1 Crossing the frontier......Page 333
11.2 Facticity of the future......Page 338
11.3 Possibility of the past......Page 343
11.4 Comprehensive present......Page 349
11.5 Beyond physics......Page 352
12.1 Exposition......Page 355
12.2 Philosophy of science......Page 356
12.3 Physics......Page 359
12.4 Metaphysics......Page 364
References......Page 369
C......Page 375
E......Page 376
I......Page 377
M......Page 378
P......Page 379
S......Page 380
U......Page 381
Z......Page 382