Philosophy of Physical Science

Author's name: Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington

Few scientists would attempt to question a theory to uncover the philosophy behind it. Eddington is one of these few. The renowned astronomer, mathematician, and physicist, Eddington was the first to prove Einstein's general theory of relativity and the first to write about it in English. Einstein himself praised him, saying that his work was the most accurate ever written about relativity in any language. He contributed to the development of non-Euclidean geometry, which greatly helped in providing a geometry suitable for understanding the world in light of the theory of relativity itself. His contributions didn't stop there; he also conducted numerous studies on the origin, evolution, movement, and composition of stars. Eddington lived through the two greatest revolutions in modern science: the theory of relativity and quantum theory. In this book, Eddington doesn't merely examine the philosophies that led to these two theories, or the philosophies that resulted from them. He attempts to paint a comprehensive picture of the universe, both scientifically and philosophically. His ambition doesn't end there; he strives to arrive at a theory of everything with enthusiasm, perseverance, and courage.