Q&A: Ideas in Physics
Ideas in Physics
Question
Hi,
I’m interested in studying philosophy of science / areas of philosophy that connect to science.
To that end, I’d like to learn about physical phenomena conceptually, without getting into the mathematics behind them.
For example, one can understand the idea of gravity without understanding the mathematical equation of the law. One can understand that there is a law that predicts the speed at which objects approach one another according to their mass, without necessarily knowing the mathematical equation that shows exactly how fast they will approach.
My questions are:
A. In your opinion, is it also possible to understand more complex phenomena in physics conceptually (such as relativity / quantum theory) without understanding the mathematics behind them, or is the mathematics necessary even for understanding the idea?
B. If it is possible, can you recommend books / websites / lectures / courses that teach physics in a more conceptual and less mathematical way? I took the course “Central Ideas in Physics” on Campus IL, and now I’m looking for additional courses.
Thank you very much, and have a great rest of the week 🙂
Answer
I’m not familiar with such literature, and I also don’t really believe in shortcuts. At least not in physics. Your plan is too general. If you want to get into it seriously and not just as a hobby, study it seriously.
Most philosophy of science is not connected to information about the various sciences. It deals with scientific methodology (experiment, confirmation, generalization, and falsification). There are philosophical implications of certain areas of physics or science, and that is a different discussion.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t know what “engage seriously” means. You’ll be able to think about it better the more you know. But it can have a real foundation only if you learn the physics properly.
Thank you very much for the answer.
My question was referring to the second thing you wrote — the philosophical implications of certain areas of physics or science.
My desire is to delve into the philosophical implications of various scientific discoveries, and so I’m wondering whether, in your opinion, for this purpose, the shortcut of learning physics conceptually is possible at all, and whether it would allow me to engage seriously with the philosophical implications of those scientific ideas.
Thank you 🙂