The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Physics is a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the state of the art in the philosophy of physics. It comprisess 54 self-contained chapters written by leading philosophers of physics at both senior and junior levels, making it the most thorough and detailed volume of its type on the market – nearly every major perspective in the field is represented.
The Companion’s 54 chapters are organized into 12 parts. The first seven parts cover all of the major physical theories investigated by philosophers of physics today, and the last five explore key themes that unite the study of these theories.
I. Newtonian Mechanics
II. Special Relativity
III. General Relativity
IV. Non-Relativistic Quantum Theory
V. Quantum Field Theory
VI. Quantum Gravity
VII. Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
VIII. Explanation
IX. Intertheoretic Relations
X. Symmetries
XI. Metaphysics
XII. Cosmology
The difficulty level of the chapters has been carefully pitched so as to offer both accessible summaries for those new to philosophy of physics and standard reference points for active researchers on the front lines. An introductory chapter by the editors maps out the field, and each part also begins with a short summary that places the individual chapters in context. The volume will be indispensable to any serious student or scholar of philosophy of physics.
The most thorough volume of its type, covering most major perspectives accross 54 chapters by leading contributors split into 12 part. Parts 1-7 cover key physical theories (e.g. special relativity; quantum gravity). 8-12 cover shared themes (e.g. explanation; symmetries). Suitable for researchers and students.
Introduction I: Newtonian Mechanics
1. Newtonian Mechanics
2.
Formulations of Classical Mechanics
3. Classical Spacetime Structure
4.
Relationism in Classical Dynamics II: Special Relativity
5. Relativity and
Space-Time Geometry
6. The Dynamical Approach to Spacetime Theories
7.
Relativity and the A-Theory
8. Relativistic Constraints on Interpretations of
Quantum Mechanics III: General Relativity
9. The Equivalence Principle(s)
10.
The Hole Argument
11. Relativistic Spacetime Structure IV: Non-Relativistic
Quantum Mechanics
12. Bells Theorem, Quantum Probabilities, and
Superdeterminism
13. Quantum Decoherence
14. The Everett Interpretation:
Structure
15. The Everett Interpretation: Probability
16. Collapse Theories
17. Bohmian Mechanics V: Quantum Field Theory
18. The Quantum Theory of
Fields
19. Renormalization Group Methods
20. Locality in (Axiomatic) Quantum
Field Theory: A Minority Report
21. Particles in Quantum Field Theory VI:
Quantum Gravity
22. The Development of Quantum Gravity: From Feelings to
Phenomena
23. String Theory
24. Quantum Gravity from General Relativity
25.
Spacetime "Emergence"
26. The Problem of Time VII: Statistical Mechanics and
Thermodynamics
27. Equilibrium in Boltzmannian Statistical Mechanics
28.
Equilibrium in Gibbsian Statistical Mechanics
29. Quantum Foundations of
Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics
30. Entropy Asymmetry VIII:
Explanation
31. Causal Explanation in Physics
32. Non-Causal Explanations in
Physics
33. Mechanistic Explanation in Physics
34. The Explanatory Value of
Choosing the Appropriate Scale(s) IX: Intertheoretic Relations
35. Nagelian
Reduction in Physics
36. Phase Transitions
37. Universality
38. Chance and
Determinism X: Symmetries
39. Symmetry and Superfluous Structure: A
Metaphysical Overview
40. Symmetry and Superfluous Structure: Lessons from
History and Tempered Enthusiasm
41. Permutations
42. Gauge Theories
43. Time
Reversal
44. Symmetry Breaking XI: Metaphysics
45. Laws
46. Chance
47. Holism
48. Dimensionality
49. Fundamentality XII: Cosmology
50. Why Is There
Something, Rather Than Nothing?
51. Time in Cosmology
52. The Fine-Tuning of
the Universe for Life
53. Dark Matter and Dark Energy
54. Evidence in
Astrophysics
Eleanor Knox is Reader in Philosophy of Physics at Kings College London. She works in philosophy of physics, particularly the philosophy of spacetime physics, and is also interested in issues of reduction and emergence, and how these two come together in quantum gravity.
Alastair Wilson is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham and Senior Adjunct Research Fellow at Monash University. He works on philosophy of physics, philosophy of science, metaphysics, and epistemology, with special interests in the philosophy of quantum theory and the metaphysics of dependence. He is the author of The Nature of Contingency: Quantum Physics as Modal Realism (2020).
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