Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology (Jan 2009)

Theoretical Physics: A Primer for Philosophers of Science

  • Francisco Antonio Doria

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5007/1808-1711.2009v13n2p195
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 2
pp. 195 – 232

Abstract

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We give a overview of the main areas in theoretical physics, with emphasis on their relation to Lagrangian formalism in classical mechanics. This review covers classical mechanics; the road from classical mechanics to Schrodinger's quantum mechanics; electromagnetism, special and general relativity, and (very briefly) gauge field theory and the Higgs mechanism. We shun mathematical rigor in favor of a straightforward presentation.