Philosophy of Physics: Space and Time (Princeton Foundations of Contemporary Philosophy) [Kindle Edition]

This isn't "philosophy of physics for dummies" by any stretch, but for someone who last took physics in 1975 and who only has taken an intro to philosophy course, this was an excellent overview of historical and modern philosophy of the physics of space and time. The author uses next to no math (thank goodness) and his prose expositions are clear and to the point. I imagine the book would also appeal to those with more knowledge of both subjects, as the author suggests that some of his positions are controversial. I'm looking forward to part 2 on matter based upon his exposition of space and time in this volume. Highly recommended.

A concise, accessible, enjoyable, responsible and rewarding survey of the historical development of the physicist's conception of space and time.

I say it's concise because this volume weighs in at about 200 pages and covers spatial/temporal geometries from Aristotle, Newton, Galileo and Einstein.

There's certainly a bit of math in the book, but not so much as to exclude the layperson. The descriptions and diagrams provided are about as clear as they can be, given the subject.

I say it's responsible because the author makes use of clear arguments, makes assumptions and missing pieces clear and follows up with recommended readings.

The text is rewarding because it clears up many misconceptions about the theories it covers and gives a fresh, clean take on the subject. I can certainly say this book helped sharpen my understanding of special & general relativity.

There's more physics than philosophy in this text. It serves as an excellent description of space and time for a philosopher. I don't see that it would give the physics student a strong philosophical hook, though it's certainly more philosophical than the average physics text. (The exception would be a relatively sizable discussion of the correspondence between Leibniz and Clarke on Newtonian absolute space, which I enjoyed having studied that debate previously.)

Overall a worthwhile read for anyone looking for an introduction to philosophy of physics, or anyone who could stand to improve their understanding of the theories presented.

First, it should be understood that this is not so much a philosophy of physics as it is physics for philosophers. This volume does not so much cover the many philosophical issues that have arisen from millennia of trying to know the rules governing the material world. Instead, it introduces the scientific issues that underlie these questioning traditions.

That said, this is a brilliant introduction to the enigmatic field of physics, tilted toward the philosopher's perspective. Most of the writers here are physicists not philosophers. But the tone is not overly mathematical. It is refreshingly buoyant, dwelling more in the realm of meaning and presence than in the cold interplay of systems.

Somehow I am reminded of Parlett's THE Book of Word Games -- perhaps it is the pleasure that this kind of inquiry creates, rather than any topical connection.

Highly recommended for philosophers, the philosophically inclined, or those simply wishing to understand what physics may MEAN -- not simply SAYS. For those who wish to be filled with the brilliant lines, spaces, and internal structures that physics and its philosophical implications can create in the soul.