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1. 19.1Alan F. Chalmers (2008). Atom and Aether in Nineteenth-Century Physical Science. Foundations of Chemistry 10 (3).
   This paper suggests that the cases made for atoms and the aether in nineteenth-century physical science were analogous, with the implication that the case for the atom was less than compelling, since there is no aether. It is argued that atoms did not play a productive role in nineteenth-century chemistry any more than the aether did in physics. Atoms and molecules did eventually find an indispensable home in chemistry but by the time that they did so they (...) were different kinds of entities to those figuring in the speculations of those natural philosophers who were atomists. Advances in nineteenth-century chemistry were a precondition for rather than the result of the productive introduction of atoms into chemistry. (shrink)

   Philosophy of Chemistry in Philosophy of Physical Science

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2. 13.4S. J. Prokhovnik (1963). The Case for an Aether. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 14 (55):195-207.
   Science, Logic, and Mathematics

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3. 9.1Jim Bourassa, Quantum Aetherdynamics.
   The Quantum AetherDynamics hypothesis reinstates a more sophisticated version of the ancient and universal idea of an Aether substratum to explain the highly successful Relativity and Quantum Field Theories. In this Theory of Everything, a Planck-scale Aether is the fabric of space, and fundamental particles are spinning vortices or solitons of this Aether. My hypothesis states that the phase relationship between waves entrained in a spinning vortex of Aether results in the actual particle type. Quantum AetherDynamics (...) provides a fluid version of Special Relativity, a non-Euclidean version of General Relativity, a topological version of Quantum Mechanics, and a vortice version of String Theory. (shrink)

   Quantum Mechanics in Philosophy of Physical Science

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4. 8.8Lisa J. Downing (1995). Siris and the Scope of Berkeley's Instrumentalism. British Journal for the History of Philosophy 3 (2):279 – 300.
   I. Introduction Siris, Berkeley's last major work, is undeniably a rather odd book. It could hardly be otherwise, given Berkeley's aims in writing it, which are three-fold: 'to communicate to the public the salutary virtues of tar-water,'1 to provide scientific background supporting the efficacy of tar-water as a medicine, and to lead the mind of the reader, via gradual steps, toward contemplation of God.2 The latter two aims shape Berkeley's extensive use of contemporary natural science in Siris. In particular, Berkeley's (...) focus on what he calls fire (or aether or light) as a quasiuniversal 'cause' of natural change3 serves these purposes, for the 'activity' of the aether, in his view, can both explain the miraculous virtues of a certain medicine, i.e. tar-water, and reveal God's action and his divine order.4 Berkeley's corpuscular speculations, including his use of fire-theory, are not especially idiosyncratic as natural philosophy. In his theorizing, as Jessop and other have noted, he is heavily indebted to the work of Hermann Boerhaave, the Dutch chemist, botanist, and physician whose teachings were highly influential in mid-eighteenth century Britain.5 Boerhaave, along with other Dutch natural philosophers cited by Berkeley, assigned a central role in accounting for physio-chemical activity to fire, a subtle, insensible particulate substance, sometimes identified with light. (shrink)

   George Berkeley in 17th/18th Century Philosophy

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5. 8.4Paul Davies, Quantum Vacuum Friction.
   The quantum vacuum may in certain circumstances be regarded as a type of fluid medium, or aether, exhibiting energy density, pressure, stress and friction. Vacuum friction may be thought of as being responsible for the spontaneous creation of particles from the vacuum state when the system is non-stationary. Examples include the expanding universe, rotating black holes, moving mirrors, atoms passing close to surfaces, and the activities of sub-cellular biosystems. The concept of vacuum friction will be reviewed and illustrated, and (...) some suggestions for future experiments made. (shrink)

   Quantum Mechanics in Philosophy of Physical Science

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6. 8.4Roberto Torretti (1983/1996). Relativity and Geometry. Dover Publications.
   High-level study discusses Newtonian principles and 19th-century views on electrodynamics and the aether, covers Einstein’s electrodynamics of moving bodies, Minkowski geometry and other topics. A rich exposition of the elements of the Special and General Theory of Relativity.

   Quantum Mechanics in Philosophy of Physical Science

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