Science 240 Fall 1998

The Nature Of Scientific Thought

II. Physics And Reality (Prof. Hiskes)

Wed. 9/23 through Wed. 10/14

9. Wed. 9/23 The Classical Perspective and the Need for a New Theory. Kosso A&R Chapt. 6 "Particles and Waves" pp. 116-126.
10. Fri. 9/25 Probabilities and Determinism. Kosso A&R Chapt. 6 pp. 110-116.
11. Mon. 9/28 How Quantum Mechanics Represents the World. No reading.
    Paper #1 Due.
12. Wed. 9/30 The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Kosso A&R Chapt. 6 pp. 126-133.
13. Fri. 10/1 Why Einstein Doesn't Like Quantum Mechanics. Kosso A&R pp. 133-139.
14. Mon. 10/5 Bell's Theorem and It's Implications. Kosso A&R Chapt. 6 pp. 139-151, Chapt. 7 pp. 152-157.
15. Wed. 10/7 Quantum Mechanics and Instrumentalism: The Copenhagen View. Kosso A&R Chapt. 7 pp. 157-163.
16. Fri. 10/9 The Measurement Problem. Kosso A&R Chapt. 8 pp. 163-176.
    Mon. 10/12 Fall Break. No Classes.
17. Wed. 10/14 Assessing the Case for Realism. Kosso A&R Chapt. 8 pp. 177-186.