عنوان

Time:

9400965222

9400965249

9789400965225

9789400965249

b593699

Time:

[Book]

Its Structure and Role in Physical Theories

by Peter Kroes.

Dordrecht

Springer Netherlands

1985

Synthese library, 179.

I. Physical time and the problem of its structure --; I.1 Introduction --; I.2 The order structure of time --; I.3 The topological structure of time --; I.4 The metrical structure of time --; I.5 Conclusion --; Notes --; II. The geometrical nature of physical time: parameter time and coordinate time --; II. 1 Introduction --; II. 2 Parameter and coordinate --; II. 3 Parameter and coordinate time in Newtonian physics --; II. 4 Parameter and coordinate time in Einsteinian physics --; II. 5 The geometrical nature of time in quantum mechanics --; II. 6 Translation of the space and time into the spacetime formalism and vice versa --; II. 7 The geometrical nature of time and dynamics --; II. 8 Parameter versus coordinate time in the study of time; some philosophical issues --; Notes --; III. Time asymmetry --; III. 1 Arrow of time: time asymmetry and time flow --; III. 2 Time asymmetry --; III. 3 (Ir)reversibility and the time reversal operator T* --; III. 4 Time asymmetry and temporal orientability --; Notes --; IV. Thermodynamical time asymmetry and the second law of phenomenological thermodynamics --; IV. 1 Introduction --; IV. 2 The mechanical program --; IV. 3 The thermodynamical program --; IV. 4 Discussion --; Notes --; Epilogue --; Name index.

This book on the structure and role of time in physical theories addresses itself to scientists and philosophers intereste:'i in the 'no man's lard' between science and philosophy, in particular between physics and philoso phy. The p:lint of departure is physical time, Le. time as usErl 1: physicists in their theories; but the analysis is not oonfined to a purely physical level but caries the problem into the domain of philosophical in quiry. Altoough the book presupp:lses some knowledge of physics, I have avoided, wherever p:lssible, the use of advanced mathematics and technical details. Of all the people woo have been of help in writing this book, I would first of all like to mention Paul Scheurer and Guy Debrock who were my primary mentors in science and philosophy. This sttrly is a revision of my dissertation [Kroes 1982a] which I wrote under the stimulating guidance of Scheurer; many of the ideas ex posed here have their origin in his work and were developErl in frequent discussions with him. Guy Debrock not only stimulated my interest in philosophy but also made valuable suggestions. Witoout any overstatement, I dare say that without their assistence, this book would never have been written. Furthernore, I would like to thank D. Dieks, J.J.C.

Philosophy (General)

Science -- Philosophy.

by Peter Kroes.

Peter Kroes

[Book]

Y