Physics and Our View of the World

Front Cover
Jan Hilgevoord, Praemium Erasmianum Foundation
Cambridge University Press, Nov 3, 1994 - Religion - 304 pages
One of the central questions of physics is whether or not a theory of everything is possible. Many physicists believe that such a theory might be attainable, a belief that has led to speculation that we might one day "know the mind of God." The philosophical implications of having a blueprint for the Universe are a subject of great debate. In this fascinating book, a group of distinguished physicists and philosophers examine not only the claims of modern physics, but also the impact these claims have on our view of the world. Among the contributors are: Jan Hilgevoord, Gerard 't Hooft, John Barrow, Dennis Dieks, Ernan McMullin, Bas van Fraassen, Paul Feyerabend, Willem Drees, Paul Davies, and Mary Hesse. At a time when many people view science with deep suspicion, this book will be of great interest to anyone wishing to explore the complex relationships that exist between physics and philosophy, theology and ideology.

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Contents

Questioning the answers or Stumbling upon good and bad Theories of Everything
16
Theories of Everything
38
introduction
61
Enlarging the known world
79
The world of empiricism
114
Has the scientific view of the world a special status compared with other views?
135
Quantum theory and our view of the world
149
van Fraassen
170
Problems in debates about physics and religion
188
The mind of God
226
metaphysics or metaphor?
239
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