leah ratner
Oct23-08, 07:02 PM
"The lack of conceptual framework suitable for comprehension of physical reality apart from the act of observation has been elevated to the status of epistemological dogma by the overwhelming majority of contemporary theoretical physicists." (Daniel M. Pisello)
The current state of affairs in physics characterizes the lack of common foundation. There is no common philosophical platform in physics; no logical rules for building theories; no connection between abstract mathematics and concrete demands of physical reality. "Physics has evolved and continues to evolve without any single strategy." (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Ideas in physics are commonly presented in mathematical forms. Physical theories are, indeed, our inventions. Their correspondence to reality has to be proven. One of the most important questions that we ask in epistemology is: Does a physical theory reflect the order in the universe, or does a theory have a different nature,contents and laws than those found in the universe? Currently physical theory not differentiated enough, if at all, from the studies of the universe. However for developing the successful methodology of construction and proving physical theories we have to distinguish order in nature from the order in physical theory. The theories are not reflections of the structures and the forces found in nature, and never were. The objects and the processes in nature have no known to us purposes. Our own actions and inventions such as theories have purpose. The main purpose of of a theory is to describe a physical process in a way that allows predictions of the process to have development and limitation. The studies of the structure of matter and characteristics of its parts are mainly empirical. Studies are successful if the facts about structure are obtained. The creation of a physical theory, on the other hand, is successful if a theory has provable logical structure and the supported by the facts. For creation of a theory physicist needs besides his hypothetical ideas and observations implement methods of science which not given us by nature,such as logic, mathematics, physical laws and definitions. We should not ascribe our methods to nature, for it is rather metaphysical idea that if we successfully use this methods then we have discovered them as hidden in nature. Our methods are convenient tools which we have invented for our own practical purposes.
l. ratner
The current state of affairs in physics characterizes the lack of common foundation. There is no common philosophical platform in physics; no logical rules for building theories; no connection between abstract mathematics and concrete demands of physical reality. "Physics has evolved and continues to evolve without any single strategy." (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Ideas in physics are commonly presented in mathematical forms. Physical theories are, indeed, our inventions. Their correspondence to reality has to be proven. One of the most important questions that we ask in epistemology is: Does a physical theory reflect the order in the universe, or does a theory have a different nature,contents and laws than those found in the universe? Currently physical theory not differentiated enough, if at all, from the studies of the universe. However for developing the successful methodology of construction and proving physical theories we have to distinguish order in nature from the order in physical theory. The theories are not reflections of the structures and the forces found in nature, and never were. The objects and the processes in nature have no known to us purposes. Our own actions and inventions such as theories have purpose. The main purpose of of a theory is to describe a physical process in a way that allows predictions of the process to have development and limitation. The studies of the structure of matter and characteristics of its parts are mainly empirical. Studies are successful if the facts about structure are obtained. The creation of a physical theory, on the other hand, is successful if a theory has provable logical structure and the supported by the facts. For creation of a theory physicist needs besides his hypothetical ideas and observations implement methods of science which not given us by nature,such as logic, mathematics, physical laws and definitions. We should not ascribe our methods to nature, for it is rather metaphysical idea that if we successfully use this methods then we have discovered them as hidden in nature. Our methods are convenient tools which we have invented for our own practical purposes.
l. ratner