Logical Leap : Induction in Physics

by Harriman, David (Author)

• ISBN13: 9780451230058
• ISBN10: 0451230051
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-07-06
• Publisher: NAL Trade

Summary

Inspired by and expanding on a series of lectures by Leonard Peikoff, David Harriman presents a fascinating answer to the problem of induction-that is, the epistemological question of how we can know the truth of inductive generalizations.

Author Biography

David Harriman worked as a physicist for the U.S. Department of Defense and taught philosophy at California State University, San Bernardino. He recently founded the Falling Apple Science Institute, a nonprofit that promotes science education.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Preface	p. 1
The Foundation	p. 5
The Nature of Concepts	p. 9
Generalizations as Hierarchical	p. 14
Perceiving First-Level Causal Connections	p. 21
Conceptualizing First-Level Causal Connections	p. 25
The Structure of Inductive Reasoning	p. 29
Experimental Method	p. 36
Galileo's Kinematics	p. 38
Newton's Optics	p. 58
The Methods of Difference and Agreement	p. 67
Induction as Inherent in Conceptualization	p. 74
The Mathematical Universe	p. 81
The Birth of Celestial Physics	p. 84
Mathematics and Causality	p. 103
The Power of Mathematics	p. 109
Proof of Kepler's Theory	p. 113
Newton's Integration	p. 116
The Development of Dynamics	p. 117
The Discovery of Universal Gravitation	p. 131
Discovery Is Proof	p. 143
The Atomic Theory	p. 151
Chemical Elements and Atoms	p. 153
The Kinetic Theory of Gases	p. 164
The Unification of Chemistry	p. 170
The Method of Proof	p. 177
Causes of Error	p. 189
Misapplying the Inductive Method	p. 191
Abandoning the Inductive Method	p. 211
The Role of Mathematics and Philosophy	p. 224
Physics as Inherently Mathematical	p. 225
The Science of Philosophy	p. 232
An End-and a New Beginning	p. 243
References	p. 259
Index	p. 269
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