Sunny Auyang identifies the philosophical foundations that allow quantum field theory to function as a coherent description of physical reality. She examines the conceptual shift from classical point particles to continuous fields and interacting systems, focusing on how many-body physics maintains structural consistency. The text analyzes the ontological status of gauge symmetries and the framework of local observables. Rather than focusing on mathematical derivations, Auyang investigates the presuppositions necessary for any objective knowledge of the microscopic world, specifically addressing how physical theories account for the emergence of complex structures from fundamental interactions.
This book serves philosophers of science and theoretical physicists interested in the conceptual logic underlying modern physics. It provides a formal analysis of how measurement and objectivity are possible within a quantum framework. Readers gain a clear understanding of the structural requirements for scientific modeling and the logical bridge between abstract mathematical formalisms and empirical observation. It is particularly useful for those seeking to move beyond the standard Copenhagen interpretation toward a more robust ontology of physical processes.
Deep, outward-looking and open-ended; a demanding read.
Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1995
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press, USA
- ISBN
- 9780195093452
- Language
- EN
