(in Polish) Philosophical Problems of Science B

obligatory courses

The course will offer an introduction to philosophy of physics. Issues will be presented in the chronological order, beginning with ancient astronomy (the Ptolemeic geocentric system), the Copernican revolution and the first achievements of modern science (classical mechanics, thermodynamics and electromagnetism) and concluding with recent theories: the special and general theories of relativity, quantum mechanics, and cosmology. We will discuss selected texts that illustrate these issues.

The course will outline the most significant theories and conceptions of physics in the chronological order, emphasizing their philosophically important aspects. The point of departure will be the ancient astronomy and the subsequent revolution in physics which took place in the 16th and 17th centuries as a result of Copernicus’s and Kepler’s astronomical discoveries and Galileo’s and Newton’s writings. While presenting Newtonian mechanics, we will focus on the controversy about the nature of space and time and on the issue of determinism and predictability. The next topic will be the reduction of thermodynamics to statistical mechanics and the question of the irreversibility of thermodynamic phenomena. The discussion of electromagnetism will lead us to the philosophical issues concerning the unification of electrical and magnetic phenomena and the transition from the classical to the relativistic theories. The presentation of the special and general relativity theories will include an analysis of the basic concepts and claims of the theories. In particular, the course will explain relativistic effects and the status of non-Euclidean geometries. The students will also gain basic knowledge concerning the theory of quantum phenomena and its epistemological and ontological consequences. We will discuss the conceptual difficulties in quantum mechanics: the measurement problem, the issue of nonlocality, and hidden-variables theories. The class will conclude with a brief discussion of modern cosmology and particle physics.

Chapters 4 and 5, „Observational astronomy and the Ptolemaic model” and „The Copernican model and Kepler’s law”, in J.T. Cushing, Philosophical concepts in physics, Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Chapter 6, “Galileo on motion”, in ibidem.

Chapters 7 and 8, „Newton’s Principia” and „Newton’s law of universal gravitation”, in ibidem.

Chapters 11 and 12 “An overarching Newtonian framework” and “A view of the world based on science: determinism”, in ibidem.

Chapter 11 “Extremal principles” in L. Sklar, “Philosophy and the foundation of dynamics”, CUP 2013.

Chapters 2 and 3, “Thermodynamics” and “Statistical mechanics” in D. Albert, “Time and chance”, Harvard U. Press, 2000.

Chapter 2 “Fields to the rescue” in M. Lange, “An introduction to the philosophy of physics: locality, fields, energy, mass”, Blackwell 2002.

“Electromagnetism”, in The Feynman lectures on physics, http://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/II_01.html

“From space and time to spacetime” in: L. Sklar, “Philosophy of physics”, Taylor and Francis

Chapter 18 “General relativity and the expanding universe”, in. J.T. Cushing, op. cit.

Chapter 12, “Quantum Metaphysics”, in M. Lange, op. cit.

The student:

Knows the historical development of concepts and theories in physics from antiquity to modern times.

Knows and appreciates connections between fundamental problems in physical theories and various ontological, methodological and epistemological issues.

Is able to identify and analyze philosophical problems brought about by the development of physical theories.

Is able to present his/her views and arguments in oral discussions and in writing.

Is open to new philosophical ideas influenced by physical theories and is ready to change his/her view in light of evidence and arguments.

Cooperates with other participants in the classroom.

The final grade will be calculated taking into account the following evaluation elements: two written assignments, one mid-term written test, the final exam (written).

Permissible number of absences: 2