The Philosophy of Nature: A Historical Scetch
Filozofia przyrody
RIGHTS AVAILABLE:
World
Fr. Heller's The Philosophy of Nature is a new and considerably expanded edition of the popular The Philosophy of the World published by Znak in 1992. The author gives an overview of the most important systems of nature in the history of European thinking, starting with the cosmology of Plato and ending with the Open Universe of Karl Popper, he presents a critical presentation of the methods used by contemporary philosophies of nature, and discusses philosophical controversies centered around the discoveries of 20th century physics: the theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, and the unified theory. The Philosophy of Nature is a fascinating and indispensable source of knowledge for both scientists interested in philosophy and philosophers analysing the relationship between philosophy and physics.
CONTENTS
How did the modern picture of the universe shape itself historically?
Why did the mechanistic view of nature fall?
What philosophical problems does 20th century physics create?
Does a philosophy of nature even exist?
About the author:
Fr. Michał Heller (b. 1936) is a philosopher, theologian, professor in the Philosophy Department at the Pontifical Academy of Theology (PAT) in Cracow (Poland), doctor honoris causa of the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy in Cracow, ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Petersburg Academy of Sciences, and also an associate member of the Vatican Astronomical Observatory. He has written about the following philosophical problems: physics of relativity, the philosophy of science, and the relationship between science and theology. His publications include The Evolution of the Cosmos and Cosmology (1983, 1985), The Theoretical Foundations of Cosmology (1988), The Physics of Movement and Space-time (1993), Time and Causality (2002). He is also the author of many popular introductions to the issues of the philosophy of nature, among them, Toward the Universe (1970), The Cosmic Adventure of the Wise Man (1994), Joy in Banach's Spaces (1995), To Capture Becoming (1996).
