How Is Quantum Field Theory Possible? [Paperback]

Sunny Y. Auyang (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195093453 | ISBN-13: 978-0195093452 | Publication Date: July 27, 1995

Quantum field theory (QFT) combines quantum mechanics with Einstein's special theory of relativity and underlies elementary particle physics. This book presents a philosophical analysis of QFT. It is the first treatise in which the philosophies of space-time, quantum phenomena, and particle interactions are encompassed in a unified framework. Describing the physics in nontechnical terms, and schematically illustrating complex ideas, the book also serves as an introduction to fundamental physical theories. The philosophical interpretation both upholds the reality of the quantum world and acknowledges the irreducible cognitive elements in its representation. The interpretation is based on an analysis of our ways of thinking as the are embedded in the logical structure of QFT. The author argues that philosophical categories are significant only if they play active and essential roles in our knowledge and hence constitute part of the theories in actual use. Thus she regards physical theories as primary, extracts their categorical structure, and uses it to rethink key philosophical questions. Among the questions this book tries to answer are: What are the quantum properties independent of measurements? How do we refer to individual things in a continuous field? How do theories relate to objects? What are the general conditions of the world and of our ways of thinking that make possible our knowledge of the microscopic realm, which is so intangible and counterintuitive? As a penetrating analysis of vital themes in contemporary science, the book will engage the interest of students and professionals in physics and philosophy alike.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The union of quantum mechanics and special relativity and its importance to the basic structure of the physical world."--Science & Spirit

About the Author

Sunny Y Auyang is at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 27, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195093453
• ISBN-13: 978-0195093452
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,619,864 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing alternative to the usual philosophical doctrine, August 30, 2002

By 

Dr. Lee D. Carlson (Baltimore, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How Is Quantum Field Theory Possible? (Hardcover)

This book, very insightful into the intricacies of quantum field theory, is not based on what one might call the "standard assumption" of the philosophy of science, namely that science has an underlying foundation, that it is in a sense a derived collection of knowledge that needs "justification" philosophically. Indeed, the usual attitude in the philosophy of science is that a theory is only "possible" if its formalism is laid bare and shown to satisfy some essential philosophical assumptions. The predictions of a theory are not by themselves its justification, as this would presuppose too much of a "commonsense" attitude, and such an attitude is eschewed by philosophers of science.

But of course there is another outlook on science that is not held by any of the modern doctrines in the philosophy of science. This is one in which science is not assumed to need an underlying philosophical justification, that it is its own justification, and the goal of philosophy should be in discovering what this assumption says about philosophy. For example, what theories of mind and reality are entailed by quantum field theory? Do the invariance principles used in quantum field theory say anything about epistemology? Quantum field theory is rich in concepts and uses very sophisticated mathematical constructions, and it has, via the ingenuity of experimentalists, resulted in real predictions that are as of yet unrivaled by any other physical theory. Can one build an interesting philosophical structure, complete with a metaphysics and a nontrivial epistemology, using the assumptions and structure of quantum field theory?

In large measure, the author of this book does take this approach, and she is clearly not attempting to justify quantum field theory from the standpoint of the standard assumption. This is a unique and refreshing approach, and the book is a highly interesting one, as one can gain, as a bare minimum, a siginificant amount of understanding into the subtleties of quantum field theory. In addition, the analysis that the author has given is a positive one for quantum field theory. She assumes the existence of what could be characterized as 'epistemic fixed points' (my words here) in our ability to categorize phenomena in the microrealm. Also, she argues, a philosophical foundation for quantum field theory must deal with their success in actual practice. The author assumes from the start that quantum field theory gives us knowledge of the microrealm, and answers to the questions of the meaning of objects in this realm can be found within the theory of quantum fields itself. And, even more refreshing, she states that quantum field theory still requires the assistance of common sense, in order to apply the theory and derive meaning from experimental data.

The author has indeed done a fine job here, and has given the scientific and philosophical community a book that is an alternative to the usual philosophical standards. She describes and justifies a reality that humans can indeed understand via the framework of quantum field theory. This understanding takes place with concepts and constructions that might at first seem alien from a 'classical' perspective, but when one puts on the right epistemic glasses, things become clearer and the seemingly odd behavior in the microrealm becomes very natural and philosophically sound.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Some good ideas, but mostly unreadable, August 24, 2007

By 

Peter McCluskey (San Bruno, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How Is Quantum Field Theory Possible? (Paperback)

This book contains some good ideas, but large parts of it are too hard for me to get anything out of, both due to an assumption that the reader knows a good deal about quantum mechanics and due to a style which probably requires rereading most parts multiple times in order to decipher even those parts which don't require an understanding of quantum mechanics.
I was impressed by her explanation of how we should understand the uncertainty of position and momentum measurements. She says the quantum entities have genuine deterministic properties, but we shouldn't try to think of position and momentum as properties of any persistent entities. They are properties associated with specific measurements. The properties of persistent entities such as atoms are mostly stranger than what we can measure, and measurements only give us indirect evidence of those properties.
Her descriptions of coordinate systems used in quantum physics seem inconsistent with the impressions I got from Smolin's Trouble with Physics. Smolin implies (but doesn't clearly state) that quantum theory retains Newtonian background dependent coordinates. Auyang's descriptions of quantum coordinate systems seem very different. It's clear that I've only scratched the surface of what's needed to understand these issues.

4.0 out of 5 stars A good but difficult book., March 21, 2001

By 

Roberto Castro Alamino (Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Is Quantum Field Theory Possible? (Hardcover)

This book is intended to people who already have some knowledge of quantum field theory (QFT), at least in a qualitative level. Someone who has never read or listened anything about the matter will have serious difficults to follow the ideas contained in the book. A previous knowledge of philosophy is not so necessary but maybe desirable because it is exhaustively discuted and, in general, the required concepts are explained inside the text. However, the text begins to become more and more complicated and, sometimes, boring as the philosophical discussions, which englobe Kant, Humes, Leibnitz and others, become deeper. The book will interest people who wants to study the philosophy of QFT, but do not expect to acquire mathematical or technical knowledge about the matter except for some good appendices that try to explain in a relatively simple way things as fiber bundles and probability measures. In summary, it is neither a technical book in QFT nor a book for the public in general, it is a primary serious attempt to fit QFT in a philosophical framework. It is worth to read, but only if you are prepared for a very difficult task..