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This book is about how to understand quantum mechanics by means of a modal interpretation. Modal interpretations provide a general framework within which quantum mechanics can be considered as a theory that describes reality in terms of physical systems possessing definite properties. Quantum mechanics is standardly understood to be a theory about probabilities with which measurements have outcomes. Modal interpretations are relatively new attempts to present quantum mechanics as a theory which, like other physical theories, describes an observer-independent reality. In this book, Pieter Vermaas summarises the results of this work. The book will be of great value to undergraduates, graduate students and researchers in philosophy of science, and physics departments with an interest in learning about modal interpretations of quantum mechanics.

Quantum theory --- -Quantum dynamics --- Quantum mechanics --- Quantum physics --- Physics --- Mechanics --- Thermodynamics --- Mathematical models --- Mathematical models. --- -Mathematical models --- General and Others --- Quantum dynamics

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This volume presents 25 essays on the philosophy of design. With contributions originating from philosophy and design research, and from product design to architecture, it gives a rich spectrum of state of the art research and brings together studies on philosophical topics in which design plays a key role and design research to which philosophy contributes.  Coverage zooms in on specific and more well-known design disciplines but also includes less-studied disciplines, such as graphic design, interior architecture and exhibition design. In addition, contributors take up traditional philosophical issues, such as epistemology, politics, phenomenology and philosophy of science. Some essays cover philosophical issues that emerge in design, for instance what design can do in addressing societal problems, while other essays analyze main-stream philosophical issues in which design is part of the argument, as for instance abduction and aesthetics.  Readers will discover new research with insightful analyses of design research, design thinking and the specificity of design. Overall, this comprehensive overview of an emerging topic in philosophy will be of great interest to researchers and students.

Industrial design. --- Engineering design. --- Design, Engineering --- Engineering --- Industrial design --- Strains and stresses --- Design, Industrial --- Mechanical drawing --- New products --- Design --- Philosophy. --- Architectural design. --- Aesthetics. --- Architecture. --- Sustainable development. --- Philosophy of Technology. --- Industrial Design. --- Engineering Design. --- Architectural History and Theory. --- Sustainable Development. --- Structural design --- Mental philosophy --- Humanities --- Development, Sustainable --- Ecologically sustainable development --- Economic development, Sustainable --- Economic sustainability --- ESD (Ecologically sustainable development) --- Smart growth --- Sustainable development --- Sustainable economic development --- Economic development --- Architecture, Western (Western countries) --- Building design --- Buildings --- Construction --- Western architecture (Western countries) --- Art --- Building --- Beautiful, The --- Beauty --- Esthetics --- Taste (Aesthetics) --- Philosophy --- Criticism --- Literature --- Proportion --- Symmetry --- Environmental aspects --- Design and construction --- Psychology --- Architecture, Primitive --- Radio broadcasting Aesthetics --- Aesthetics --- Technology --- Architecture --- Sustainability. --- Sustainability science --- Human ecology --- Social ecology --- Technology and civilization --- History.

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This first book-length study in the philosophy of technical artefacts and their technical functions presents a new action-theoretical account of using and designing called the ICE theory. This theory connects the material side of technical artefacts with the aims of everyday users and the tasks of engineers when designing for those everyday users. Wybo Houkes and Pieter Vermaas have developed ICE theory in close contact with the engineering literature on designing and the literature on functions in the philosophy of biology and philosophy of mind. As such the book is a telling example of the successful new school of philosophy of technology that is aimed at understanding engineering and technology on their own merits. The book presents the reader with a broad and detailed understanding of technical artefacts and their functions, which is sensitive to the dynamic and socially structured practices of using and designing. This understanding shows how our technology-saturated everyday life can be subjected to rigorous philosophical analysis, and how artefacts and technical functions provide an area of inquiry that is equally fascinating as, but genuinely different from, biological items and their functions.

Philosophy --- Materials sciences --- Engineering sciences. Technology --- Production management --- DFMA (design for manufacture and assembly) --- filosofie --- ingenieurswetenschappen

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"This handbook charts the new engineering paradigm of engineering systems. It brings together contributions from leading thinkers in the field and discusses the design, management and enabling policy of engineering systems. It contains explorations of core themes including technical and (socio-) organisational complexity, human behaviour and uncertainty. The text includes chapters on the education of future engineers, the way in which interventions can be designed, and presents a road map for the future. This book follows the emergence of engineering systems, a new engineering paradigm that will help solve truly global challenges. This global approach is characterized by complex sociotechnical systems that are now co-dependent and highly integrated both functionally and technically as well as by a realization that we all share the same: climate, natural resources, a highly integrated economical system and a responsibility for global sustainability goals. The new paradigm and approach requires the (re)designing of engineering systems that take into account the shifting dynamics of human behaviour, the influence of global stakeholders, and the need for system integration. The text is a reference point for scholars, engineers and policy leaders who are interested in broadening their current perspective on engineering systems design and in devising interventions to help shape societal futures."--Provided by publisher.

Engineering design. --- Information technology. --- Industrial psychology. --- Economic sociology. --- Engineering economics.

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According to the modal interpretation, the standard mathematical framework of quantum mechanics specifies the physical magnitudes of a system, which have definite values. Probabilities are assigned to the possible values that these magnitudes may adopt. The interpretation is thus concerned with physical properties rather than with measurement results: it is a realistic interpretation (in the sense of scientific realism). One of the notable achievements of this interpretation is that it dissolves the notorious measurement problem. The papers collected here, together with the introduction and concluding critical appraisal, explain the various forms of the modal interpretation, survey its achievements, and discuss those problems that have yet to be solved. Audience: Philosophers of science, theoretical physicists, and graduate students in these disciplines.

Quantum theory --- Mathematical models. --- Mathematical models --- Quantum dynamics --- Quantum mechanics --- Quantum physics --- Physics --- Mechanics --- Thermodynamics --- Philosophy and science. --- Quantum physics. --- Physical chemistry. --- Physics. --- Philosophy of nature. --- Philosophy of Science. --- Quantum Physics. --- Physical Chemistry. --- History and Philosophical Foundations of Physics. --- Philosophy of Nature. --- Nature --- Nature, Philosophy of --- Natural theology --- Natural philosophy --- Philosophy, Natural --- Physical sciences --- Dynamics --- Chemistry, Theoretical --- Physical chemistry --- Theoretical chemistry --- Chemistry --- Science and philosophy --- Science --- Philosophy