The Structure of Physics

Preface by the EditorsPreface 1985On Weizsäcker's Philosophy of Physics (by H. Lyre)Chapter 1: Introduction. 1.1. The Question. 1.2. OutlinePart I: The Unity of PhysicsChapter 2: The System of theories. 2.1. Preliminary. 2.2. Classical point mechanics. 2.3. Mathematical forms of the Laws of Nature. 2.4. Chemistry. 2.5. Thermodynamics. 2.6. Field theories. 2.7. Non-Euclidan geometry and semantical consistency. 2.8. The relativity problem. 2.9. Special theory of relativity. 2.10. General theory of relativity. 2.11. Quantum theory, historical. 2.12. Quantum theory, plan of reconstruction. Chapter 3: Probability and abstract quantum theory. 3.1. Probability and experience. 3.2. The classical concept of probability. 3.3. Empirical determination of probabilities. 3.4. Second quantization. 3.5. Methodical: reconstruction of abstract quantum theory. 3.6. Reconstruction via probabilities and the lattice of propositions. Chapter 4: Quantum theory and space-time. 4.1. Concrete quantum theory. 4.2. Reconstruction of quantum theory via variable alternatives. 4.3. Space and time. Chapter 5: Models of particles and interaction. 5.1. Open questions. 5.2. Representations in tensor space. 5.3. Quasi-particles in rigid coordinate spaces. 5.4. Model of quantum electrodynamics. 5.5. Elementary particles. 5.6. General theory of relativity. Chapter 6: Cosmology and particle physics (by Th. Görnitz). 6.1. Quantum theory of abstract binary alternatives and cosmology. 6.2. Ur-theoretical vacuum and particle states. 6.4. Outlook.Part II: Time and InformationChapter 7: Irreversibility and entropy. 7.1. Irreversibility as problem. 7.2. A model of irreversible processes. 7.3. Documents. 7.4. Cosmology and the theory of relativity. Chapter 8: Information and evolution. 8.1. The systematic place of the chapter. 8.2. What is information? 8.3. What is evolution? 8.4. Information and probability. 8.5. Evolution as growth of potential information. 8.6. Pragmaticinformation: novelty and confirmation. 8.7. Biological preliminaries to logic.Part III: On the Interpretation of PhysicsChapter 9: The problem of the interpretation of quantum theory. 9.1. About the history of the interpretation. 9.2. The semantical consistency of quantum theory. 9.3. Paradoxa and alternatives. Chapter 10: The stream of information. 10.1. The quest for substance. 10.2. The stream of information in quantum theory. 10.3. Mind and form. Chapter 11: Beyond quantum theory. 11.1. Crossing the frontier. 11.2. Facticity of the future. 11.3. Possibility of the past. 11.4. Comprehensive present. 11.5. Beyond physics. Chapter 12: In the language of philosophers. 12.1. Exposition. 12.2. Philosophy of science. 12.3. Physics. 12.4. Metaphysics.ReferencesIndex