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The Elements and Structure of the Physical Sciences | by Julien A. Ripley, Jr. |
A Progressive Living Book Review
Representative Quotations
Mission Statement
"Hilbert, one of the great modern mathematicians, was once led to exclaim somewhat flippantly 'Physics is becoming too difficult for physicists to comprehend. . . .' This text has been written on the premise that [the] two main sources of difficulty — indirectness and departure from traditional principles — can be removed. With respect to the first, it is hoped that by limiting the number of topics and emphasizing the relationship between theory and evidence in a few basic topics of physics and chemistry, the structure of scientific thought can be made clear. That this will entail both mathematics and concentrated thought is inevitable. On the other hand, it will be possible to eliminate memorization of a large array of facts and theories that are commonly required in a course in the physical sciences. To develop understanding and a modicum of analytic ability, rather than to present a mere survey of the technical achievements of science is the goal.
"To remove the second difficulty (caused by the departure of scientific abstractions from common sense and tradition), to show how modern science is recasting the theories of the past, and to relate science with other beliefs and ideologies, considerable attention will be paid to certain aspects of the history and philosophy of science."
Samples
"Let us begin in a preliminary way. What is the nature of the knowledge at which the discipline called physical science aims?
"We can start with the rather broad and tentative definition: the subject matter of physical science is the systematic development of generalizations involving matter and energy in all their manifestations. . . . But, it may be asked, if we include all manifestations of matter and energy, does not that imply the inclusion of biology and possibly psychology as well? To this we answer that although the 'laws' of the physical sciences are never apparently suspended when living processes are involved, it is nevertheless true that, up to now, it has been found impossible to reduce many of the most important generalizations that arise in the study of living organisms to those of physics. The function of the organs in a living entity — indeed, the very organization itself — escapes, at present, complete physical analysis, and requires an analysis in terms that are not part of the language of physics."
". . .it is well to keep in mind that experiments, almost without exception, are guided by theory. They are a way of asking nature a question. In order to ask a question, some problem must have occurred that can be stated with some degree of clarity. The experiment usually answers a question that falls into one of three types. (1) Is a hypothesis valid in a certain particular situation? Can a previously held hypothesis or law be extended beyond the range previously tested? (2) are two or more quantities related and, if so, what is the law of their relationship? (3) Which of two or more hypotheses has greater validity?"
"Every measurement can be regarded as an assertion of an analogy between physical properties and a number system. When one says 'this table is five feet long," one is asserting that the whole length is to a standard length called a foot as the number five is to the number one. There is, in other words, an assertion of a formal similarity between two lengths and two given numbers. Several different lengths, when measured, have a relationship to one another which is declared to have the same relationship as numbers do to one another. In every case there is a reference to an abstract number system."
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