Description
Questioning the Foundations of Physics, Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2015
Which of Our Fundamental Assumptions Are Wrong?
The Frontiers Collection Series
Coordinators: Aguirre Anthony, Foster Brendan, Merali Zeeya
Language: EnglishSubjects for Questioning the Foundations of Physics:
Publication date: 10-2016
Support: Print on demand
Publication date: 02-2015
274 p. · 15.5x23.5 cm · Hardback
Description
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The essays in this book look at way in which the fundaments of physics might need to be changed in order to make progress towards a unified theory. They are based on the prize-winning essays submitted to the FQXi essay competition ?Which of Our Basic Physical Assumptions Are Wrong??, which drew over 270 entries.
As Nobel Laureate physicist Philip W. Anderson realized, the key to understanding nature?s reality is not anything ?magical?, but the right attitude, ?the focus on asking the right questions, the willingness to try (and to discard) unconventional answers, the sensitive ear for phoniness, self-deception, bombast, and conventional but unproven assumptions.?
The authors of the eighteen prize-winning essays have, where necessary, adapted their essays for the present volume so as to (a) incorporate the community feedback generated in the online discussion of the essays, (b) add new material that has come to light since their completion and (c) to ensure accessibility to a broad audience of readers with a basic grounding in physics.
The Foundational Questions Institute, FQXi, catalyzes, supports, and disseminates research on questions at the foundations of physics and cosmology, particularly new frontiers and innovative ideas integral to a deep understanding of reality, but unlikely to be supported by conventional funding sources.
Brendan Foster
Zeeya Merali
Published in cooperation with the renowned physics "think-tank" Foundational Questions Institute, FQXi
Specially reworked versions of the most exciting essays of over 270 submissions
A book that will appeal both to hobby scientists and to active theoretical physicists seeking inspired new directions
Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras