How do things work? What makes up matter? How large is the universe? The answer to these questions lies in understanding physical phenomena: mechanics, electricity, magnetism, optics and many other phenomena can be explained through theories in physics. Indeed, progress in physics has been crucial for mankind’s technological progress. Theories and Theorems is an introductory handbook that gives readers a simple explanation of the laws of physics and presents these concepts in a way that stimulates people to think about the how-and-why of this physical world, in which we live.

"A thorough, illuminating exploration of the most consequential controversy raging in modern science." --New York Times Book Review An Editor's Choice, New York Times Book Review Longlisted for PEN/E.O. Wilson Prize for Literary Science Writing Longlisted for Goodreads Choice Award Every physicist agrees quantum mechanics is among humanity's finest scientific achievements. But ask what it means, and the result will be a brawl. For a century, most physicists have followed Niels Bohr's solipsistic and poorly reasoned Copenhagen interpretation. Indeed, questioning it has long meant professional ruin, yet some daring physicists, such as John Bell, David Bohm, and Hugh Everett, persisted in seeking the true meaning of quantum mechanics. What Is Real? is the gripping story of this battle of ideas and the courageous scientists who dared to stand up for truth. "An excellent, accessible account." --Wall Street Journal "Splendid. . . . Deeply detailed research, accompanied by charming anecdotes about the scientists." --Washington Post

This book systematically creates a general descriptive theory of scientific change that explains the mechanics of changes in both scientific theories and the methods of their assessment. It was once believed that, while scientific theories change through time, their change itself is governed by a fixed method of science. Nowadays we know that there is no such thing as an unchangeable method of science; the criteria employed by scientists in theory evaluation also change through time. But if that is so, how and why do theories and methods change? Are there any general laws that govern this process, or is the choice of theories and methods completely arbitrary and random? Contrary to the widespread opinion, the book argues that scientific change is indeed a law-governed process and that there can be a general descriptive theory of scientific change. It does so by first presenting meta-theoretical issues, divided into chapters on the scope, possibility and assessment of theory of scientific change. It then builds a theory about the general laws that govern the process of scientific change, and goes into detail about the axioms and theorems of the theory.

In this sequence of philosophical essays about natural science, Nancy Cartwright argues that fundamental explanatory laws, the deepest and most admired successes of modern physics, do not in fact describe the regularities that exist in nature. Yet she is not `anti-realist'. Rather, she draws a novel distinction, arguing that theoretical entities, and the complex and localized laws that describe them, can be interpreted realistically, but that the simple unifying laws of basic theory cannot.

Decisions, Values and Groups, Volume 1 contains the proceedings of the First Interdisciplinary Conference of the Behavioral Sciences Division of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, held at the University of New Mexico in 1957. The papers explore the roles of decisions, values, and groups in the behavioral sciences and cover topics ranging from the use of mathematical models in decision making to the contribution of the laboratory to the study of individual differences. Theoretical contributions to small group research are also discussed. This book is comprised of 22 chapters and begins with an overview of the merging of mathematical and statistical techniques with the empirical method in the study of behavior, as well as the place of decisions, values, and groups in behavioral science research. The reader is then introduced to the applications of mathematical models to decision processes, with particular reference to the automation of decision making. The following chapters focus on conceptualizations and designs for research in values and evaluative processes; theoretical aspects of small group research; and psychodynamic patterns of behavior; and special problems in the military. A non-introspective approach to the study of human motivation is described. This volume will be of interest to behavioral scientists and social scientists.

This little book makes serious math simple—with more than 120 laws, theorems, paradoxes, and more explained in jargon-free terms. The Little Book of Mathematical Principles provides simple, clear explanations for the principles, equations, paradoxes, laws, and theorems that form the basis of modern mathematics. It is a refreshingly engaging tour of Fibonacci numbers, Euclid's Elements, and Zeno's paradoxes, as well as other fundamental principles such as chaos theory, game theory, and the game of life. Renowned mathematics author Dr. Robert Solomon simplifies the ancient discipline of mathematics and provides fascinating answers to intriguing questions, such as: What is the greatest pyramid?, What is a perfect number?, and Is there a theory for stacking oranges?

Philosophy of science puts science itself under the microscope: What exactly is science? How do its explanations of the world differ from those of other subjects, including so-called “pseudo-sciences”? How should we understand and evaluate scientific methods? What, if anything, can science tell us about the nature of physical reality? Dean Rickles guides beginners through the central topics in philosophy of science. He looks at the origins and evolution of the field, the issues that arise when distinguishing between science and non-science, the concepts of logic and associated problems, scientific realism and anti-realism, and the nature of scientific models and representing. Rickles brings the subject to sparkling life with a user-friendly tone and rich, real-world examples. What is Philosophy of Science? is the must-have primer for students getting to grips with this broad-ranging and important topic.