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Among the great ironies of quantum mechanics is not only that its conceptual foundations seem strange even to the physicists who use it, but that philosophers have largely ignored it. Here, Bernard d'Espagnat argues that quantum physics--by casting doubts on once hallowed concepts such as space, material objects, and causality-demands serious reconsideration of most of traditional philosophy. On Physics and Philosophy is an accessible, mathematics-free reflection on the philosophical meaning of the quantum revolution, by one of the world's leading authorities on the subject. D'Espagnat presents an objective account of the main guiding principles of contemporary physics-in particular, quantum mechanics-followed by a look at just what consequences these should imply for philosophical thinking. The author begins by describing recent discoveries in quantum physics such as nonseparability, and explicating the significance of contemporary developments such as decoherence. Then he proceeds to set various philosophical theories of knowledge--such as materialism, realism, Kantism, and neo-Kantism--against the conceptual problems quantum theory raises. His overall conclusion is that while the physical implications of quantum theory suggest that scientific knowledge will never truly describe mind-independent reality, the notion of such an ultimate reality--one we can never access directly or rationally and which he calls "veiled reality"--remains conceptually necessary nonetheless.

Physics --- Philosophy. --- Albert Einstein. --- Aristotelian physics. --- Atomic physics. --- Atomic theory. --- Atomism. --- Baruch Spinoza. --- Bell's theorem. --- Classical electromagnetism. --- Classical mechanics. --- Classical physics. --- Concept. --- Consciousness. --- Contemporary Physics. --- Explanation. --- Foundations of Physics. --- Hidden variable theory. --- Hypothesis. --- Interpretations of quantum mechanics. --- Materialism. --- Measurement in quantum mechanics. --- Measurement. --- Modern physics. --- Naturalism (philosophy). --- Objectivity (philosophy). --- Objectivity (science). --- Ontology. --- Phenomenon. --- Philosopher. --- Philosophical realism. --- Philosophical theory. --- Philosophy of mathematics. --- Philosophy of science. --- Physicist. --- Physics World. --- Prediction. --- Probability. --- Quantum cosmology. --- Quantum decoherence. --- Quantum electrodynamics. --- Quantum entanglement. --- Quantum field theory. --- Quantum gravity. --- Quantum logic. --- Quantum mechanics. --- Quantum superposition. --- Quantum system. --- Reality. --- Reason. --- Scalar (physics). --- Science. --- Scientific Data (journal). --- Scientific notation. --- Scientific realism. --- Scientific theory. --- Scientist. --- Solid-state physics. --- Special relativity. --- State of affairs (philosophy). --- Statistical ensemble (mathematical physics). --- The Evolution of Physics. --- The Philosopher. --- Theoretical physics. --- Theory. --- Thought. --- Wave function.

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Graduate students in the natural sciences-including not only geophysics and space physics but also atmospheric and planetary physics, ocean sciences, and astronomy-need a broad-based mathematical toolbox to facilitate their research. In addition, they need to survey a wider array of mathematical methods that, while outside their particular areas of expertise, are important in related ones. While it is unrealistic to expect them to develop an encyclopedic knowledge of all the methods that are out there, they need to know how and where to obtain reliable and effective insights into these broader areas. Here at last is a graduate textbook that provides these students with the mathematical skills they need to succeed in today's highly interdisciplinary research environment. This authoritative and accessible book covers everything from the elements of vector and tensor analysis to ordinary differential equations, special functions, and chaos and fractals. Other topics include integral transforms, complex analysis, and inverse theory; partial differential equations of mathematical geophysics; probability, statistics, and computational methods; and much more. Proven in the classroom, Mathematical Methods for Geophysics and Space Physics features numerous exercises throughout as well as suggestions for further reading. Provides an authoritative and accessible introduction to the subject Covers vector and tensor analysis, ordinary differential equations, integrals and approximations, Fourier transforms, diffusion and dispersion, sound waves and perturbation theory, randomness in data, and a host of other topics Features numerous exercises throughout Ideal for students and researchers alike an online illustration package is available to professors

Geophysics --- Cosmic physics --- Physics --- Space sciences --- Mathematics. --- Analytical mechanics. --- Applied mathematics. --- Atmospheric physics. --- Bessel function. --- Bifurcation theory. --- Calculation. --- Calculus of variations. --- Cartesian coordinate system. --- Cauchy's theorem (geometry). --- Celestial mechanics. --- Central limit theorem. --- Chaos theory. --- Classical electromagnetism. --- Classical mechanics. --- Classical physics. --- Convolution theorem. --- Deformation (mechanics). --- Degeneracy (mathematics). --- Diagram (category theory). --- Differential equation. --- Drag (physics). --- Earth science. --- Eigenvalues and eigenvectors. --- Einstein notation. --- Elliptic integral. --- Elliptic orbit. --- Equation. --- Expectation value (quantum mechanics). --- Figure of the Earth. --- Forcing function (differential equations). --- Fourier series. --- Fourier transform. --- Fractal dimension. --- Function (mathematics). --- Gaussian function. --- Geochemistry. --- Geochronology. --- Geodesics in general relativity. --- Geometry. --- Geophysics. --- Gravitational acceleration. --- Gravitational constant. --- Gravitational potential. --- Gravitational two-body problem. --- Hamiltonian mechanics. --- Handbook of mathematical functions. --- Harmonic oscillator. --- Helmholtz equation. --- Hilbert transform. --- Hyperbolic partial differential equation. --- Integral equation. --- Isotope geochemistry. --- Lagrangian (field theory). --- Laplace transform. --- Laplace's equation. --- Laws of thermodynamics. --- Limit (mathematics). --- Line (geometry). --- Lorenz system. --- Mathematical analysis. --- Mathematical geophysics. --- Mathematical physics. --- Newton's law of universal gravitation. --- Newton's laws of motion. --- Newton's method. --- Newtonian dynamics. --- Numerical analysis. --- Numerical integration. --- Operator (physics). --- Orbit. --- Orbital resonance. --- Parseval's theorem. --- Partial differential equation. --- Perturbation theory (quantum mechanics). --- Perturbation theory. --- Planetary body. --- Planetary science. --- Poisson's equation. --- Pole (complex analysis). --- Proportionality (mathematics). --- Quantum mechanics. --- Rotation (mathematics). --- Satellite geodesy. --- Scalar (physics). --- Scientific notation. --- Separatrix (mathematics). --- Sign (mathematics). --- Space physics. --- Statistical mechanics. --- Stokes' theorem. --- Three-dimensional space (mathematics). --- Transformation geometry. --- Trapezoidal rule. --- Truncation error (numerical integration). --- Two-dimensional space. --- Van der Pol oscillator. --- Variable (mathematics). --- Vector space. --- Wave equation.