Overview

In recent years, many philosophers of modern physics came to the conclusion that the problem of how objectivity is constituted (rather than merely given) can no longer be avoided, and therefore that a transcendental approach in the spirit of Kant is now philosophically relevant. The usual excuse for skipping this task is that the historical form given by Kant to transcendental epistemology has been challenged by Relativity and Quantum Physics. However, the true challenge is not to force modern physics into a rigidly construed static version of Kant s philosophy, but to provide Kant s method with flexibility and generality. In this book, the top specialists of the field pin down the methodological core of transcendental epistemology that must be used in order to throw light on the foundations of modern physics. First, the basic tools Kant used for his transcendental reading of Newtonian Mechanics are examined, and then early transcendental approaches of Relativistic and Quantum Physics are revisited. Transcendental procedures are also applied to contemporary physics, and this renewed transcendental interpretation is finally compared with structural realism and constructive empiricism. The book will be of interest to scientists, historians and philosophers who are involved in the foundational problems of modern physics.

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9781282068797

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Reviews

From the reviews: This collection not only meets its aims, it also uncovers an emerging and exciting field of study with multifaceted possibilities. It would also function as a remarkably versatile and constructive resource for graduate students working in departments which fall roughly under the banner of history and/or philosophy of science. The more formal articles would also be of great interest to any physicists looking for an alternative to traditional metaphysics one where the constitution of objectivity becomes paramount. (Jacob V. Pearce, International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 24 (4), December, 2010)

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