Philosophy and Physics of Space and Time
Philosophy 433, 433H, 533
Physics 433/533
Spring 2005

11:30-12:45  TR

 

Instructor:                     M. Bradie, Philosophy 

Course Description

This course is an introduction to the philosophy and history of concepts of space and time.  Among the topics to be covered are Zeno's paradoxes, the dispute between Newton and Leibniz on the nature of space and time (Are space and time entities in their own right or not), the relationship between geometry and physics (the structure of space and time and spacetime), and some implications of relativity theory (time dilation, length contraction, the relativity of simultaneity) and the question of the compatibility of relativity theory and quantum mechanics.  Among the more philosophical issues, we will examine the relation of models to reality, the role of convention in scientific theory, questions of evidence and testability of scientific models, and questions of determinism and causality.   We conclude with some reflections on the nature of scientific theories, in general, and theories of space-time structure, in particular.

Students who sign up for graduate credit will be expected to do an extra paper or other appropriate project.

Main Texts:

Space from Zeno to Einstein, by Nick Huggett
Simply Einstein, by Richard Wolfson
+ selected readings

 

For further information, contact

Michael Bradie, mbradie@bgnet.bgsu.edu, 2-8372