Philosophy and the Foundations of Dynamics

by Lawrence Sklar

• ISBN13: 9780521888196
• ISBN10: 0521888190
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2013-01-07
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Although now replaced by more modern theories, classical mechanics remains a core foundational element of physical theory. From its inception, the theory of dynamics has been riddled with conceptual issues and differing philosophical interpretations and throughout its long historical development, it has shown subtle conceptual refinement. The interpretive program for the theory has also shown deep evolutionary change over time. Lawrence Sklar discusses crucial issues in the central theory from which contemporary foundational theories are derived and shows how some core issues (the nature of force, the place of absolute reference frames) have nevertheless remained deep puzzles despite the increasingly sophisticated understanding of the theory which has been acquired over time. His book will be of great interest to philosophers of science, philosophers in general and physicists concerned with foundational interpretive issues in their field.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The prehistory of classical dynamics

The astronomical revolution

Precursors to Newtonian dynamics

The Newtonian synthesis

Philosophical aspects of the Newtonian synthesis

The history of statics

The development of dynamics after Newton

The 'Newtonian' approach after Newton

From virtual work to Lagrange's equation

Extremal principles

Some philosophical reflections on explanation and theory

Conservation principles

Hamilton's equations

Canonical transformations, optical analogies and algebraic structures

The search for new foundations

New directions in the applications of dynamics

Spacetime formulations of Newtonian dynamics

Formalizations: mass and force

Relationist dynamics

Modes of explanation

Retrospective and conclusions

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