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CONTENTS
Solid Bodies and Geometry | 73 |
Law of Homogeneity | 74 |
The Non-Euclidean World | 75 |
The World of Four Dimensions | 78 |
Conclusions | 79 |
Chapter V.—Experience and Geometry | 81 |
Geometry and Astronomy | 81 |
The Law of Relativity | 83 |
Bearing of Experiments | 86 |
Supplement (What is a Point?) | 89 |
Ancestral Experience | 91 |
Part III. Force | |
Chapter VI.—The Classic Mechanics | 92 |
The Principle of Inertia | 93 |
The Law of Acceleration | 97 |
Anthropomorphic Mechanics | 103 |
The School of the Thread | 104 |
Chapter VII.—Relative Motion and Absolute Motion | 107 |
The Principle of Relative Motion | 107 |
Newton’s Argument | 108 |
Chapter VIII.—Emergy and Thermodynamics | 115 |
Energetics | 115 |
Thermodynamics | 119 |
General Conclusions on Part III | 123 |
Part IV. Nature | |
Chapter IX.—Hypotheses in Physics | 127 |
The Rôle of Experiment and Generalization | 127 |
The Unity of Nature | 130 |
The Rôle of Hypothesis | 133 |
Origin of Mathematical Physics | 136 |
Chapter X.—The Theories of Modern Physics | 140 |
Meaning of Physical Theories | 140 |
Physics and Mechanism | 144 |
Present State of the Science | 148 |
Chapter XI.—The Caleulus of Probabilities | 155 |
Classification of the Problems of Probability | 158 |
Probability in Mathematics | 161 |
Probability in the Physical Sciences | 164 |
Rouge et noir | 167 |
The Probability of Causes | 169 |
The Theory of Errors | 170 |
Conclusions | 172 |
Chapter XII.—Optics and Electricity | 174 |
Fresnel’s Theory | 174 |
Maxwell’s Theory | 175 |
The Mechanical Explanation of Physical Phenomena | 177 |