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Reflections on the Practice of Physics: James Clerk Maxwells Methodological Odyssey in Electromagnetism [Kõva köide]

, (University of Haifa, Israel)
  • Formaat: Hardback, 262 pages, kõrgus x laius: 234x156 mm, kaal: 453 g
  • Sari: History and Philosophy of Technoscience
  • Ilmumisaeg: 26-Feb-2020
  • Kirjastus: Routledge
  • ISBN-10: 0367367289
  • ISBN-13: 9780367367282
  • Formaat: Hardback, 262 pages, kõrgus x laius: 234x156 mm, kaal: 453 g
  • Sari: History and Philosophy of Technoscience
  • Ilmumisaeg: 26-Feb-2020
  • Kirjastus: Routledge
  • ISBN-10: 0367367289
  • ISBN-13: 9780367367282

This monograph examines James Clerk Maxwell’s contributions to electromagnetism to gain insight into the practice of science by focusing on scientific methodology as applied by scientists. First and foremost, this study is concerned with practices that are reflected in scientific texts and the ways scientists frame their research. The book is therefore about means and not ends.

Preface x
1 Introduction
1(25)
1.1 Methodology: framing scientific knowledge
1(4)
1.2 An overview of Maxwells approach to methodology
5(4)
1.3 Maxwells initial publication of 1856 (an abstract)---placing methodology at the forefront
9(3)
1.4 Methodology as an essential feature of scientific practice: the case of Maxwell
12(2)
1.5 The argument
14(12)
2 Maxwell's choice: Faraday vs. Ampere
26(22)
2.1 Michael Faraday (1791--1867) and James Clerk Maxwell: a unique relation
26(15)
2.2 Andre-Marie Ampere (1775--1836): the contrast
41(7)
3 Thomson, Stokes, Rankine, and Thomson and Tait
48(25)
3.1 Introduction: methodology in electromagnetism
48(1)
3.2 William Thomson (1824--1907): from analogy to representation
48(9)
3.3 George Stokes (1819--1903): idealization
57(5)
3.4 William J. M. Rankine (1820--1872): energy-a novel unifying concept
62(3)
3.5 W. Thomson and Peter Tait (1831--1901): abstract dynamics
65(5)
3.6 Conclusion
70(3)
4 Station 1 (1856--1858): on Faraday's lines of force
73(25)
4.1 A novel methodology: modifying the methodology of analogy
73(7)
4.2 The structure of Maxwell's argument
80(5)
4.3 From the general to the specific
85(2)
4.4 Confronting Ampere's theory
87(1)
4.5 Conclusion
88(5)
4.6 Appendix: a bibliographical note on Maxwell 1858
93(5)
5 Station 2 (1861--1862): on physical lines of force
98(29)
5.1 Introduction
98(1)
5.2 Preliminary: from instrumentalism to causality
98(2)
5.3 The methodology: linking hypothesis to representation
100(8)
5.4 Applying the methodology: assumptions and their consequences
108(2)
5.5 Part III: a landmark in the history of physics
110(11)
5.6 Conclusion
121(6)
6 Station 3 (1865): A dynamical theory of the electromagnetic field
127(28)
6.1 Introduction
127(1)
6.2 Part I: marking the goal---the construction of a formal theory consisting of a set of general equations
128(2)
6.3 Part II: the flywheel analogy
130(6)
6.3.1 How does the analogy work?
130(4)
6.3.2 Illustration vs. analogy
134(2)
6.4 The methodology of reversing the argument
136(6)
6.5 Intermediate summary
142(2)
6.6 A physical theory in symbolic language
144(6)
6.6.1 An example---the case of electric elasticity
148(2)
6.7 Conclusion
150(5)
7 Station 4 (1873): A treatise on electricity and magnetism
155(54)
7.1 Introduction
155(2)
7.2 Framework
157(1)
7.3 Novel methodologies
158(27)
7.3.1 Energy as a key concept in electrodynamics
159(6)
7.3.2 Mathematical tools in the treatment of electrodynamics
165(5)
7.3.3 Dimensionality of units
170(5)
7.3.4 Analogies, illustrations, and working models as mechanical representations
175(8)
7.3.5 Mental imagery
183(2)
7.4 The impact of the new methodologies on the construction of the theory
185(14)
7.4.1 The electric displacement and the displacement current
185(5)
7.4.2 General equations of the electromagnetic field
190(5)
7.4.3 From mathematics to physics: vortices and mechanism
195(4)
7.5 Conclusion
199(10)
8 Philosophical reflections on Maxwell's methodological odyssey
209(37)
8.1 Commitment
209(1)
8.2 Modifications of methodologies
209(9)
8.2.1 Station 1: analogy
210(1)
8.2.2 Station 2: hypothesis
211(2)
8.2.3 Station 3: textual description
213(2)
8.2.4 Station 4: abstract dynamics
215(2)
8.2.5 Transitions from one methodology to the next
217(1)
8.3 Methodologies in Maxwell's practice
218(19)
8.3.1 The role of mathematics
219(1)
8.3.2 Reciprocity of formulation: translation
220(3)
8.3.3 Mental imagery
223(4)
8.3.4 Analogy
227(2)
8.3.5 Hypothesis: the micro-level and explanatory claims
229(4)
8.3.6 Model and modeling
233(4)
8.4 Concluding remarks
237(9)
References 246(12)
Index 258
Giora Hon is a professor of the History and Philosophy of Science in the Department of Philosophy, University of Haifa.

Bernard R. Goldstein is a historian of science and University Professor Emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh.