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The Philosophic Corruption of Physics

David Harriman

Presented at: OCON 2011

Date: Jul 02, 2011

1. Newton to Kant:

Newton's physics and his philosophic legacy. The attack on the rational foundations of physics by 18th century philosophy. Hume's rejection of entities, identity and causality. Kant's "anti-Copernican" revolution. The primacy of consciousness. Kant's view of space and time.

2. Kant's Physics & the Early 19th Century:

Kant deduces the principles of physics from his "categories." The primacy of action over entities. The acausal idea of "action-at-a-distance." Kant's influence on English physics. Faraday's view of force and matter.

3. The Death of Classical Physics:

The transition to Kantian empiricism. Physics as the "mathematical description of appearances." Mach's positivism and its later influence. The rejection of atoms—after their existence was proven. Boltzman's tragic fight for classical physics.

4. Relativity: The Physics of Appearances

Einstein's subjectivism and rationalism. The rejection of induction. The constant speed of light and two possible approaches toward an objective theory. Einstein's "length contraction," "time dilation" and "relativistic mass." "The curvature of space."

5. Quantum Theory: The Physics of Nihilism

Kantian nihilism takes over in Germany. Physicists are "emancipated" from the constraints of identity, causality and logic. The development of quantum theory. Schrodinger's cat paradox. Prospects for the future.

"Mr. Harriman's understanding of the integration of physics and philosophy is unique and his presentation is clear, logical, well-illustrated and even emotionally powerful – It is a brilliant case study of the role of philosophy in perverting a science across centuries–and at the same time a revolutionary indication of how to untangle and reconstruct this science within a rational (Objectivist) framework." Dr. Leonard Peikoff

philosophyphysics

Parts: 5

Handout: none

Publications:

  • e-Store (En) - 373 mins
  • CD, 2006 (En) - 373 mins - 5 CD set with Q&A