This is a review of "E=mc2: A biography of the world's most famous equation" by David Bodanis, Walker & Company, NY, 2000, 337 p.
This is a blog that takes the name of my magnum opus on scientific philosophy called "The Scientific Worldview." Reviewers have called it “revolutionary,” “exhilarating,” “magnificent,” “fascinating,” and even “a breathtaking synthesis of all understanding.” There is very little math in it, no religion, no politics, no psycho-babble, and no BS. It provides the first outline of the philosophical perspective that will develop during the last half of the Industrial-Social Revolution.
This is a review of "E=mc2: A biography of the world's most famous equation" by David Bodanis, Walker & Company, NY, 2000, 337 p.
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But let us not forget that Hegel was a pantheist and an idealist. Almost without doubt, he also believed in a Freewill (let's make it one word, shall we?). In fact, between Hegel and Einstein, surely Einstein would have views closer to yours (not merely scientifically, but also philosophically).
ReplyDeleteEinstein may have posited "motion without corpuscular matter." But don't confuse what is impalpable with the metaphysical meaning of "matter," which is anything that is not "spirit." Thus, even empty space falls under "matter" (unless the writer is suggesting that empty space is conscious). Surely, Einstein would have said that space IS matter (at least if was being philosophically exact).
You have nicely pointed out that almost any philosopher can be correct once in awhile. Hegel was one of the better known dualists, thus making it easier for him to make such an important deterministic statement about matter and its motion. The universe consists only of matter in motion. There is nothing else. "Spirit" is simply the motion of matter and thus is not "part" of the universe. It is what those parts do. Einstein's major mistake was positing matterless motion, which was a major regressive philosophical move that has been detrimental to physics ever since. On this subject, the dualist Hegel was far more progressive than the dualist Einstein.
ReplyDeleteAfter stumbling across this post I'm interested in your book but a little confused about some things. You are right to note that stressing the interdependence and inseperability of concepts is a Hegelian (and Anti-Kantian) theme. Kant relied on a Newtonian worldview when he treated space and time as seperate and independent realities. Hegel, like Einstein, instead proposed that space and time must be treated together as one thing, because Hegel said that about just about every philosophical dualism.
ReplyDeleteTwo Questions
1. What on earth do you mean when you call Hegel a dualist?
2. In your work do you discuss Hegel in any detail? And for that matter, any interest in the work of classical pragmatists like Peirce or Dewey?
Thanks, C.
Cee:
ReplyDeleteThanks for your interest. I have only a short paragraph on Hegel (p.19-20). He is generally considered by most philosophers as being a dualist. His "objective idealism" considers "spirit" as being independent of matter, with the evolution of matter occurring in tune with a grand universal spirit. I consider all phenomena heretofore considered as manifestations of "spirit" simply as the motions of matter. Hegel would have done better to hold to his dictum on inseparability. I mention Hegel about 11 times in the book (see Amazon's Inside the Book feature). I give similar short shrift to the pragmatists, simply because their work uses the indeterministic assumptions that I no longer believe in.
The key is that I assume that motion is not a thing, but what things do. Time is motion, not a thing. That is why motion cannot be a dimension, in spite of what Einstein and other idealists say.
Hope you enjoy the book. The assumptions are all upfront and the whole thing fits together nicely.
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ReplyDelete