"Physics and Philosophy: The Revolution in Modern Science" by Werner Heisenberg

In-depth explanation talking about the role of Physics in a philosophical sense.

I mentioned before how I thought that physicists often scoffed at philosophers, not really needing them when their researches and their experiments prove otherwise. As Quantum Theory was born, things didn't seem the way they normally were as behaviors of particles don't comply with the laws of Mathematics and Logic. It was then Physics needed the wisdom and interpretation of Philosophy to define what makes the action of a particle the way it is. Never assume you need something as there comes a time when you'll need it, huh?

Written by the physicist himself, Werner Heisenberg, he goes all out talking and interpreting what the notion of quantum physics is and what its underlying focus overall. Making brief mentions of philosophers René Descartes and Immanuel Kant, Heisenberg discusses much about their philosophical points of view into the quantum physical realm. The part where he talks about the particles and its "notion" was the part I was waiting for, but there wasn't much a clear-cut stance on what makes an atom behave the way it is. I wanted to know why, despite its integration of the mathematical disciplines of Statistics and Probability used. Perhaps, we may never know the answer, or we do but it's not clear, but Heisenberg briefly brought that thought up. Throughout the book, it was more discussions on Philosophy and what physicists look for during rh aftermath of their experiments and theorizing.

I felt the book was more of a conversation-like, overview of the partnership of physics and philosophy, and not much really diving in to what makes physics the area of science that defines the world and the Universe, composing physical theories and laws. There is also a mention as to what comprises an experiment to become a theory, and what makes that physical formulation into a law.

A tid bit dry at times, Heisenberg brings up the cruciality of physics needing philosophy, like it needs mathematics, to really open up to what the reality of our place of existence is, and why the laws recorded and composed shows that Nature obeys such a perplexing phenomenon.

Not too bad of a read, as I feel this was an overview than a thesis by the main man himself. I would've liked to read more on the discussion and bringing in philosophers more of their input in defining the physical science. I would've liked to see the looks on the philosophers' faces when they hear first hand on the account of the thought experiment of Schrödinger's Cat.

Kris Caballero

Founder of KCU Network and KCU Plus, Kris has been writing since he managed a personal blog made back in late 2005. Officially back to doing computer programming (software development) and video production, Kris enjoys reading books on Mathematics, Quantum Computing, Philosophy, playing old video/DOS games, digital video archiving, and listening to sports, public radio and classical music.

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