The Role of Mathematics in Fundamental Physics
In this chapter, I argue that the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in fundamental physics has become evident through our growing understanding of the significance of symmetry principles in nature and the ever-expanding repertoire of mathematical
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Jane McDonnell
The Pythagorean World
Jane McDonnell
The Pythagorean World Why Mathematics Is Unreasonably Effective In Physics
Jane McDonnell Philosophy Department Clayton,Victoria Australia
ISBN 978-3-319-40975-7 ISBN 978-3-319-40976-4 DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-40976-4
(eBook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016957514 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2017 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Cover illustration: © Purcell Pictures, Inc. / Alamy Stock Photo Printed on acid-free paper This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer International Publishing AG Switzerland The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
Preface
Don’t be surprised then, Socrates, if it turns out repeatedly that we won’t be able to produce accounts on a great many subjects—on gods or the coming to be of the universe—that are completely and perfectly consistent and accurate. Instead, if we can come up with accounts no less likely than any, we ought to be content, keeping in mind that both I, the speaker, and you, the judges, are only human. Plato, Timaeus 29c
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Acknowledgements
Many people helped with the preparation of this book. The following deserve special recognition. Thanks to Graham Oppy for invaluable discussions, comments, suggestions and direction. Thanks to Monima Chadha for her encouragement. Thanks to the students and staff of the Monash University Philosophy Department for general support and assistance. Thanks to Robert Griffiths for patiently answering my questions about consistent histories quantum mechanics. Thanks to the examiners of my thesis, Eric Steinhart and Peter Forrest, for their suggested improvements. My special thanks go to my husband, Michael McDonnell, for his critical insights. Without his support, this book would not have been possible. Any and all mistakes or omissions are mine alone.
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Abstract In this book, I a
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