Appearance and Reality

Peter Kosso is Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy at Northern Arizona University. He is the author of Reading the Book of Nature (1992) and Observability and Observation in Physical Science (1989).

• PrefaceIntroduction1: Physics and PhilosophyWhy This Will Require Both Physics and PhilosophyStandards of ProofFrom Physics to PhilosophyUseful Philosophical ConceptsPhilosophical IssuesPhilosophical Evidence2: Appearance and RealityScientific ObservationThe Conceptual InfluenceThe Physical InfluenceNature as It IsPhilosophical Arguments about RealismReturn to Bohr3: The Special Theory of RelativityThe Principle of RelativitySpace and TimeRelative and Absolute PropertiesThe Foundations of the Special Theory of RelativityConsequences of the Absolute Speed of LightThe Relativity of SimultaneityTime DilationLength ContractionMitch's ParadoxNothing Can Go Faster Than the Speed of LightSummary of the Special Theory of Relativity4: The General Theory of RelativityGeneral Covariance and the Principle of EquivalenceConsequences of General Covariance and the Principle of EquivalenceThe Bending of LightGravitational Red-shift (Time Dilation)The Curvature of SpacetimeMach's PrincipleSummary of the General Theory of Relativity5: Relativity and RealismTwo Separate QuestionsThe Way Nature IsHow Do We Know the Theory is True?Summary6: Quantum MechanicsProbability, Cause and Effect, and DeterminismParticles and WavesThe State Function, Complementarity, and the Uncertainty PrincipleSpin and the EPR ExperimentBell's ProofSummary of Quantum Mechanics7: Quantum Mechanics and RealismWhat to Make of Bell's ProofThe Quantum/Classical DistinctionThe Copenhagen InterpretationThe Measurement ProblemAlternative Interpretations of Quantum MechanicsThe Many-words InterpretationThe Consciousness InterpretationIt's All Quantum MechanicsBohm's TheorySummary8: Realistic RealmTwo Kinds of Questions: Metaphysics and EpistemologyThe Metaphysical IssueThe Epistemological IssueIt's Not the End of the WorldReferences and Suggested ReadingPhilosophical BackgroundRelativityQuantum MechanicsHistorical and Biographical AccountsPrimary Sources

"Superb--simply written, accessibile, yet accurate and even thorough. Can take students with no special knowledge all the way to the philosophically relevant portions of relativity and quantum mechanics."--Michael Levin, City College of New York"Clear and engaging. Probably one of the few books in which quantum mechanics is explained in a manner non-science students find interesting."--Prakash Chenjeri, Southern Oregon University"A well-explained and accessible text on philosophy of physics for non-science-major undergraduates. Appearance and Reality is an excellent introduction to the mysteries of quantum theory and relativity."--Robert Brosnan, ndiana University"Contains some very good material on the philosophy of physics, and also possesses some good stuff on the theory of relativity. Should be quite useful for a philosophy of science course."--Stephen Joseph, Framingham State College"A fine book. It is clear, accurate, and interesting."--David Detmer, Purdue University-Calumet