The Discovery of Dynamics: A Study from a Machian Point of View of the Discovery and the Structure of Dynamical TheoriesEver since Newton created dynamics, there has been controversy about its foundations. Are space and time absolute? Do they form a rigid but invisible framework and container of the universe? Or are space, time, and motion relative? If so, does Newton's 'framework' arise through the influence of the universe at large, as Ernst Mach suggested? Einstein's aim when creating his general theory of relativity was to demonstrate this and thereby implement 'Mach's Principle'. However, it is widely believed that he achieved only partial success. This question of whether motion is absolute or relative has been a central issues in philosophy; the nature of time has perennial interest. Current attempts to create a quantum description of the whole universe keep these issues at the cutting edge of modern research. Written by the world's leading expert on Mach's Principle, The Discovery of Dynamics is a highly original account of the development of notions about space, time, and motion. Widely praised in its hardback version, it is one of the fullest and most readable accounts of the astronomical studies that culminated in Kepler's laws of planetary motion and of the creation of dynamics by Galileo, Descartes, Huygens, and Newton. Originally published as Absolute or Relative Motion?, Vol. 1: The Discovery of Dynamics (Cambridge), The Discovery of Dynamics provides the technical background to Barbour's recently published The End of Time, in which he argues that time disappears from the description of the quantum universe. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 75
Page 9
... particular , it would seem to be absurd to say of a body that it moves through space along a straight line . Although Mach never expressed himself precisely in these terms , we have here the essence of the epistemological problem with ...
... particular , it would seem to be absurd to say of a body that it moves through space along a straight line . Although Mach never expressed himself precisely in these terms , we have here the essence of the epistemological problem with ...
Page 10
... particular placing we choose we obtain in principle different changes in intensity . No less than in the case of material particles , the universal change that takes place between the two snapshots simultaneously severs all connection ...
... particular placing we choose we obtain in principle different changes in intensity . No less than in the case of material particles , the universal change that takes place between the two snapshots simultaneously severs all connection ...
Page 11
... particular subject . Moreover , we shall see in Chap . 2 , in which the immediate continuation of the above passage is quoted , that as late as 1949 Einstein was still very loath to abandon Mach . Let me now outline what might have ...
... particular subject . Moreover , we shall see in Chap . 2 , in which the immediate continuation of the above passage is quoted , that as late as 1949 Einstein was still very loath to abandon Mach . Let me now outline what might have ...
Page 15
... particular , they might have a bearing on the difficulties mentioned in the footnote on p . 12. For this reason a certain amount of space is devoted to fundamental philosophical questions , in particular the very basic divide that ...
... particular , they might have a bearing on the difficulties mentioned in the footnote on p . 12. For this reason a certain amount of space is devoted to fundamental philosophical questions , in particular the very basic divide that ...
Page 16
... particular periods or particular scientists . I do not think there is any book that quite covers the same field , certainly not in the way in which the discovery of dynamics is examined simultaneously with the evolution of the ideas of ...
... particular periods or particular scientists . I do not think there is any book that quite covers the same field , certainly not in the way in which the discovery of dynamics is examined simultaneously with the evolution of the ideas of ...
Contents
LVIII | 365 |
LIX | 378 |
LX | 384 |
LXI | 396 |
LXII | 402 |
LXIII | 406 |
LXIV | 409 |
LXV | 420 |
XIII | 70 |
XIV | 74 |
XV | 77 |
XVI | 84 |
XVII | 93 |
XVIII | 100 |
XIX | 104 |
XXI | 110 |
XXII | 112 |
XXIII | 117 |
XXIV | 118 |
XXV | 122 |
XXVI | 128 |
XXVII | 139 |
XXVIII | 141 |
XXIX | 143 |
XXX | 149 |
XXXI | 155 |
XXXII | 159 |
XXXIII | 175 |
XXXIV | 183 |
XXXV | 191 |
XXXVI | 193 |
XXXVII | 196 |
XXXVIII | 203 |
XXXIX | 209 |
XL | 214 |
XLI | 221 |
XLII | 223 |
XLIII | 227 |
XLIV | 246 |
XLV | 252 |
XLVI | 258 |
XLVII | 264 |
XLVIII | 273 |
XLIX | 283 |
LI | 292 |
LII | 301 |
LIII | 322 |
LIV | 335 |
LV | 344 |
LVI | 352 |
LVII | 359 |
LXVI | 425 |
LXVII | 432 |
LXVIII | 435 |
LXIX | 437 |
LXX | 440 |
LXXI | 451 |
LXXII | 455 |
LXXIII | 457 |
LXXIV | 462 |
LXXV | 473 |
LXXVI | 476 |
LXXVII | 478 |
LXXVIII | 483 |
LXXIX | 495 |
LXXX | 498 |
LXXXI | 502 |
LXXXII | 503 |
LXXXIV | 515 |
LXXXV | 528 |
LXXXVI | 534 |
LXXXVII | 539 |
LXXXVIII | 546 |
LXXXIX | 556 |
XC | 566 |
XCI | 598 |
XCII | 605 |
XCIII | 609 |
XCIV | 617 |
XCV | 623 |
XCVI | 628 |
XCVII | 639 |
XCVIII | 645 |
XCIX | 646 |
C | 654 |
CI | 662 |
CII | 668 |
CIII | 672 |
CIV | 676 |
CV | 690 |
CVI | 697 |
CVII | 699 |
725 | |
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Common terms and phrases
absolute space acceleration actually Almagest angle appears apsides area law Aristotelian Aristotle Aristotle's Astronomia Nova astronomy body Brahe Cartesian centre centrifugal force Chap circle circular motion clearly collision concept of motion Copernican Copernicus Copernicus's deferent defined definition Descartes described determined Dialogo discovery of dynamics discussion distance diurnal motion earth eccentricity ecliptic effect Einstein ellipse epicycle epicycle-deferent equal equant explain fact frame of reference Galilean invariance Galileo geometry gravity heavens Hipparchus Huygens Ibid idea important inertial motion Kepler kinematic law of inertia laws of motion Mach Mach's Mach's Principle Machian mass mathematical matter moon Motu move nature Newton Newtonian dynamics observations orbit passage phenomena philosophical physical planetary motions planets position precise Principia principle problem Ptolemaic system Ptolemy Ptolemy's quantity rectilinear relative revolution rotation Scholium significant solar speed sphere stars terrestrial theory things Third Law uniform motion universe velocity
Popular passages
Page 26 - To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction: or, the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal and directed to contrary pans.
Page ix - I wish we could derive the rest of the phenomena of Nature by the same kind of reasoning from mechanical principles, for I am induced by many reasons to suspect that they may all depend upon certain forces by which the particles of bodies, by some causes hitherto unknown, are either mutually impelled towards one another, and cohere in regular figures, or are repelled and recede from one another.