Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time

Tim Maudlin's broad historical overview examines Aristotelian and Newtonian accounts of space and time, and traces how Galileo's conceptions of relativity and space-time led to Einstein's special and general theories of relativity. Maudlin explains special relativity using a geometrical approach, emphasizing intrinsic space-time structure rather than coordinate systems or reference frames. He gives readers enough detail about special relativity to solve concrete physical problems while presenting general relativity in a more qualitative way, with an informative discussion of the geometrization of gravity, the bending of light, and black holes. Additional topics include the Twins Paradox, the physical aspects of the Lorentz-FitzGerald contraction, the constancy of the speed of light, time travel, the direction of time, and more.

In this concise book, Tim Maudlin, introduces nonphysicists to the core philosophical issues surrounding the nature and structure of space and time, and is also an ideal resource for physicists interested in the conceptual foundations of space-time theory.

The Mirage of Conflict between Science and Religion

The claim is often heard that science and religion are in irreconcilable conflict. However, when the essence of science and the essence of religion are examined more closely, this viewpoint may appear as simply a mirage. The first and vital step in this investigation is to understand that only physics (including astronomy, chemistry and molecular biology) qualifies as exact science. In this book the author, Stanley L. Jaki,explains how this is so, and then explores what physicists themselves have claimed physics to be. Next he considers what these physicists have said as philosophers regarding physics, and after that shows what their investigations of the history of physics have revealed. The result is that the function of numbers is seen as the determinant factor in the nature of physics. If such is the case, and as long as religion is viewed as a set of propositions which are not subject to measurement, which numbers make possible, then a conflict between religion and exact science can only be a mirage. A chapter on the ideologies grafted onto physics provides further information on this crucial point. The next to last chapter deals with the inclement climate of opinion that prevents a fair consideration of these points. The last chapter gives a concrete analysis of some cases that often come up in debates regarding science and religion.

Physics, Philosophy, and Theology

The contents of Physics, Philosophy, and Theology are wide-ranging but unified. The first part treats historical and contemporary relations in science and religion, biblical theology on creation, Newton’s thought and the roots of modern atheism, the search for a natural theology, and the possible ways in which science and theology confront one another. In the second section the ways of knowing peculiar to the various disciplines and the implications for philosophical realism are investigated. In the last section a very creative and imaginative approach is taken to some of the most prominent areas of contemporary physics and cosmology in exploring whether they are open to revealing to us something of the reality of God and the relationshiop of God to the Universe and to us as we search for meaning within that Universe.

Contributors include: John Paul II, Ian Barbour, Michael Buckley, S.J., W. Norris Clarke, S.J., Richard Clifford, S.J., Michael Heller, Ernan McMullin, Olaf Pedersen, Mary Hesse, Nicholas Lash, Janet Martin Soskice, C.J. Isham, John Leslie, Sallie McFague, Ted Peters, John Polkinghorne, Robert John Russell, William Stoeger, S.J., and Frank Tipler.

Modern Physics and Ancient Faith

Scientific materialism grew out of scientific discoveries made from the time of Copernicus up to the beginning of the twentieth century. These discoveries led many thoughtful people to the conclusion that the universe has no cause or purpose, that the human race is an accidental by-product of blind material forces, and that the ultimate reality is matter itself. Barr contends that the revolutionary discoveries of the twentieth century run counter to this line of thought. He uses five of these discoveries—the Big Bang theory, unified field theories, anthropic coincidences, Gödel’s Theorem in mathematics, and quantum theory—to cast serious doubt on the materialist’s view of the world and to give greater credence to Judeo-Christian claims about God and the universe.

God and the new physics

How did the world begin - and how will it end? These questions are not new; what is new, argues Paul Davies, is that we may be on the verge of answering them. Here he explains, in clear, jargon-free language, how the recent far-reaching discoveries of the new physics are revolutionizing our view of the world and, in particular, throwing light on many of the questions formerly posed by religion. Science has come of age, Professor Davies believes, and can now offer a surer path to God than can religion. In this important, exciting and highly readable book, he explains why.

The mind of the universe: understanding science and religion

The Mind of the Universe provides a study in which a competent presentation of physical discoveries is combined with a rational search for philosophical presuppositions of science. An important contribution to the dialogue between religion and science, the explanatory patterns presented in this book offer scientists, philosophers, and artists a philosophical unity on the topic, so important for discussing a holistic and consistent worldview.

Jennifer Wiseman

Dr. Jennifer Wiseman is an astronomer and the Director of the Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She is also the Senior Project Scientist for NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. She previously served as Chief of the Laboratory for Exoplanets and Stellar Astrophysics at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. Her research employs the use of radio, infrared and optical telescopes to study the formation of stars and planets in dense interstellar clouds. She received her B.S. in physics from MIT, discovering comet Wiseman-Skiff in 1987, and continued her studies at Harvard, earning a Ph.D. in astronomy in 1995. She continued her research as a Jansky Fellow at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and as a Hubble Fellow at the Johns Hopkins University. She is currently a Fellow of the American Scientific Affiliation, a network of Christians in science. Dr. Wiseman also has an interest in public science engagement and policy and has served as a Congressional Science Fellow of the American Physical Society, working with the staff of the Science Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Fernando Sols

Fernando Sols is Professor of Physics, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, since 2004. Licenciado en Física, Universidad de Barcelona (1981). Doctor en Física, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1985). Fulbright Fellow and Research Associate, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (1986-1990). Associate Professor of Physics, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (1990-2004). First National Award for Undergraduate Achievements (1982). He has been director of the Instituto Nicolás Cabrera, UAM (2001-2004) and currently is Director of the Department of Physics of Materials since 2010. Editorial Board Member, New Journal of Physics (IOP-DPG). Fellow of the Institute of Physics (UK). He conducts research on theoretical physics problems related to the dynamics and transport of electrons and cold atoms, as well as to macroscopic quantum phenomena.