Read Anywhere and on Any Device!

Subscribe to Read | $0.00

Join today and start reading your favorite books for Free!

Create Free Account

Quick and Easy Sign Up!

It takes less then 1 minute to sign up, then you can enjoy Unlimited eBooks.

Sign Up Browse

Popular Genres

Read Anywhere and on Any Device!

  • Download on iOS
  • Download on Android
  • Download on iOS

Mathematics and the Natural Sciences: The Physical Singularity of Life

Mathematics and the Natural Sciences: The Physical Singularity of Life

Francis Bailly
5/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
This book aims at the identification of the organising concepts of some physical and biological phenomena, by means of an analysis of the foundations of mathematics and of physics. This is done in the perspective of unifying phenomena, of bringing different conceptual universes into dialog. The analysis of the role of 'order' and of symmetries in the foundations of mathematics is linked to the main invariants and principles, among which the geodesic principle , which govern and confer unity to the various physical theories. Moreover, we attempt to understand causal structures, a central element of physical intelligibility, in terms of symmetries and their breakings. The importance of the mathematical tool is also highlighted, enabling us to grasp the differences in the models for physics and biology which are proposed by continuous and discrete mathematics, such as computational simulations. A distinction between principles of construction and principles of proofs, both in physics and in mathematics, guides this part of the work. As for biology, being particularly difficult and not as thoroughly examined at a theoretical level, we propose a unification by 'concepts', an attempt which should always precede mathematisation. This constitutes an outline for unification also basing itself upon the highlighting of conceptual differences, of complex points of passage, of technical irreducibilities of one field to another. Indeed, a monist point of view such as ours should not make us blind: we, the living objects, are surely just big bags of molecules or, at least, this is our main metaphysical assumption.
Language
English
Pages
318
Format
Hardcover
Publisher
Imperial College Press
Release
May 11, 2011
ISBN
1848166931
ISBN 13
9781848166936

Mathematics and the Natural Sciences: The Physical Singularity of Life

Francis Bailly
5/5 ( ratings)
Read Download
This book aims at the identification of the organising concepts of some physical and biological phenomena, by means of an analysis of the foundations of mathematics and of physics. This is done in the perspective of unifying phenomena, of bringing different conceptual universes into dialog. The analysis of the role of 'order' and of symmetries in the foundations of mathematics is linked to the main invariants and principles, among which the geodesic principle , which govern and confer unity to the various physical theories. Moreover, we attempt to understand causal structures, a central element of physical intelligibility, in terms of symmetries and their breakings. The importance of the mathematical tool is also highlighted, enabling us to grasp the differences in the models for physics and biology which are proposed by continuous and discrete mathematics, such as computational simulations. A distinction between principles of construction and principles of proofs, both in physics and in mathematics, guides this part of the work. As for biology, being particularly difficult and not as thoroughly examined at a theoretical level, we propose a unification by 'concepts', an attempt which should always precede mathematisation. This constitutes an outline for unification also basing itself upon the highlighting of conceptual differences, of complex points of passage, of technical irreducibilities of one field to another. Indeed, a monist point of view such as ours should not make us blind: we, the living objects, are surely just big bags of molecules or, at least, this is our main metaphysical assumption.
Language
English
Pages
318
Format
Hardcover
Publisher
Imperial College Press
Release
May 11, 2011
ISBN
1848166931
ISBN 13
9781848166936

More books from Francis Bailly

Rate this book!

Write a review?

loader