To examine some of the philosophical and conceptual problems raised by classical, relativistic and quantum physics.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
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A | Semester 1 2023-24 |
To examine some of the philosophical and conceptual problems raised by classical, relativistic and quantum physics.
By the end of this course students should:
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Our purpose is to examine some of the conceptual questions presented by classical and contemporary physical theories.
The general theme of the course will be: What is objectively real and what is not (in modern physics)? What can we infer from our successful physical theories about the reality that those theories are used to describe and predict?
We will start by looking at notions of space and time in modern physics. Questions considered will include the following: Does time pass, or is the flow of time an illusion? In the light of special and general relativity, are temporal order and geometrical structure facts about the world or are they conventions? Is space a substance in its own right or just a system of relations among physical bodies?
We will then move on to considering the philosophical puzzles raised by quantum mechanics. Questions to be considered include: Does QM offer a complete description of reality? Do observers discover an already existing reality or do they somehow create it by measuring and observing? The focus will be on the Copenhagen interpretation, the EPR argument, and the Bell results concerning non-locality.
Task | % of module mark |
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Essay/coursework | 100 |
None
Task | % of module mark |
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Essay/coursework | 100 |
Feedback on formative work will be available two weeks after submission. Feedback on summative work will be available four weeks after submission.
"Weekly readings will be made available online. Useful background reading for a number of topics covered can be found in the Routledge Companion to the Philosophy of Physics (ed. Eleanor Knox and Alastair Wilson), available online through the library at: https://yorsearch.york.ac.uk/permalink/f/7htm32/TN_cdi_proquest_ebookcentral_EBC6696178"