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Full Description
This book on the structure and role of time in physical theories addresses itself to scientists and philosophers intereste:'i in the 'no man's lard' between science and philosophy, in particular between physics and philoso- phy. The p:lint of departure is physical time, Le. time as usErl 1:[yen] physicists in their theories; but the analysis is not oonfined to a purely physical level but caries the problem into the domain of philosophical in- quiry. Altoough the book presupp:lses some knowledge of physics, I have avoided, wherever p:lssible, the use of advanced mathematics and technical details. Of all the people woo have been of help in writing this book, I w:>uld first of all like to mention Paul Scheurer and Guy Debrock who were my primary mentors in science and philosophy. This sttrly is a revision of my dissertation [Kroes 1982a] which I wrote under the stimulating guidance of Scheurer; many of the ideas ex- posed here have their origin in his w:>rk and were developErl in frequent discussions with him. Guy Debrock not only stimulated my interest in philosophy but also made valuable suggestions.
Witoout any overstatement, I dare say that without their assistence, this book w:>uld never have been written. Furthernore, I w:>uld like to thank D. Dieks, J.J.C.
Contents
I. Physical time and the problem of its structure.- I.1 Introduction.- I.2 The order structure of time.- I.3 The topological structure of time.- I.4 The metrical structure of time.- I.5 Conclusion.- Notes.- II. The geometrical nature of physical time: parameter time and coordinate time.- II.1 Introduction.- II.2 Parameter and coordinate.- II.3 Parameter and coordinate time in Newtonian physics.- II.4 Parameter and coordinate time in Einsteinian physics.- II.5 The geometrical nature of time in quantum mechanics.- II.6 Translation of the space and time into the spacetime formalism and vice versa.- II.7 The geometrical nature of time and dynamics.- II.8 Parameter versus coordinate time in the study of time; some philosophical issues.- Notes.- III. Time asymmetry.- III.1 Arrow of time: time asymmetry and time flow.- III.2 Time asymmetry.- III.3 (Ir)reversibility and the time reversal operator T*.- III.4 Time asymmetry and temporal orientability.- Notes.- IV. Thermodynamical time asymmetry and the second law of phenomenological thermodynamics.- IV. 1 Introduction.- IV. 2 The mechanical program.- IV. 3 The thermodynamical program.- IV. 4 Discussion.- Notes.- Epilogue.- Name index.
