The development of physical theory is one of our greatest
intellectual achievements. Its products--the currently prevailing
theories of physics, astronomy, and cosmology--have proved
themselves to possess intrinsic beauty and to have enormous
explanatory and predictive power. This anthology of primary
readings chronicles the birth and maturation of five such theories
(the heliocentric theory, the electromagnetic field theory, special
and general relativity, quantum theory, and the big bang theory) in
the words of the scientists who brought them to life. It is the
first historical account that captures the rich substance of these
theories, each of which represents a fascinating story of the
interplay of evidence and insight--and of dialogue among great
minds.
Readers sit in with Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo as they
overturn the geocentric universe; observe the genius of Faraday and
Maxwell as they "discover" the electromagnetic field; look over
Einstein's shoulder as he works out the details of relativity;
listen in as Einstein and Bohr argue for the soul of quantum
mechanics in the Completeness Debate; and watch as Hubble and
others reveal the history of the universe.
The editors' approach highlights the moments of discovery that
rise from scientific creativity, and the presentation humanizes the
scientific process, revealing the extent to which great scientists
were the first to consider the philosophical implications of their
work. But, most significantly, the editors offer this as their
central thesis: although each was ushered in by a revolution, and
each contains counterintuitive elements that delayed its
acceptance, these five theories exhibit a continuous rational
development that has led them to a permanent place in the worldview
of science.
Accessible to the general reader yet sufficiently substantive
that working scientists will find value in it, "The Tests of Time"
offers an intimate look into how physical theory has been
developed, by the brilliant people who have developed it.
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