Forces and Fields: The Concept of Action at a Distance in the History of Physics [Paperback]

Mary B. Hesse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 17, 2005

An in-depth look at the science of ancient Greece, this volume examines the influence of antique philosophy on 17th-century thought. Additional topics embrace many elements of modern physics: the empirical basis of quantum mechanics, wave-particle duality and the uncertainty principle, and the action-at-a-distance theory of Wheeler and Feynman. 1961 edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications (June 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486442403
• ISBN-13: 978-0486442402
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #507,295 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars terrific book on nature of science and scientic "progress", July 29, 2010

By 

Jerry L. Martin (Bucks County PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Forces and Fields: The Concept of Action at a Distance in the History of Physics (Paperback)

I am not a philosopher of science, but I found this to be an extraordinarily good book -- much better than some highly-regarded recent studies of a similar kind. Hesse really makes clear the role of models in science and explains in language this non-scientist could (sometimes barely) understand, just how the successive Aristotelian, Cartesian, etc., models handled issues that involve action at a distance -- hence, the focus on forces and fields. This concept turns out to be a very useful focus for this kind of study, since it is both specific (which helps the reader get a handle on the scientific debates) and yet fundamental (so it sheds light on each theory as a whole).

This is not the condensceding sort of history of science that says, wasn't Aristotle dumb, and Descartes was full of mistakes, but sees how each provided a workable framework for handling the empirical observations and theoretical problems at the time. The reader comes to understand not only the particular theories and scientific "revolutions" better, but the nature of scientific theorizing itself. Very highly recommended.