The nature of the physical world

Theory of Relativity, Quantum Theory, and Humanity's Big Questions

Author: Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington

This is a different book because its author is different and because its idea emerged in a different context. Eddington, the famous astronomer, mathematician, and physicist, was the first to prove Einstein's general theory of relativity and the first to write about it in English. Einstein himself praised him when he said that what he wrote was the most accurate on relativity in any language. He contributed to the development of non-Euclidean geometry, which greatly helped in providing a geometry valid for understanding the world in light of the theory of relativity itself. He did not stop there; he also conducted numerous studies on the origin, evolution, motion, and composition of stars, and was one of the first enthusiasts of quantum theory. On the other hand, Eddington was a deeply religious man, a member of a Protestant religious community, and an eloquent speaker capable of conveying the most complex ideas. The book we have in our hands appears to be the product of the fervent thoughts thriving in his head. The first eleven chapters are purely scientific, attempting to explain and interpret the most important theories of modern science and the implications of the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics. The last four chapters are philosophical, metaphysical, and sometimes even mystical, attempting to answer the big questions in light of the standards and orientations of these modern theories. As we mentioned, the idea for this book emerged in a different context. It initially consisted of lectures delivered as part of the Gifford Lectures, a series of annual lectures considered one of the most important and honored events held by the Scottish Academy. These lectures are delivered at several Scottish universities, and their primary subject is natural theology, concerned with establishing the existence of God based on logical deduction and ordinary experience of nature. In this book we find a strong dedication to science and a penetrating vision in its philosophy. We also find a confused person who wants to benefit from everything he knows in order to answer major questions that have always troubled him.