James Jeans

The Mysterious Universe is a popular science book which begins with a full-page citation of the famous passage in Plato's Republic, Book VII, laying out the allegory of the cave. The book made frequent reference to the quantum theory of radiation, begun by Max Planck in 1900, to Albert Einstein's general relativity, and to the new theories of quantum mechanics of Heisenberg and Schr dinger, of whose philosophical perplexities the author seemed well aware.This book is based upon the conviction that the teachings and findings of astronomy and physical science are destined to produce an immense change on our outlook on the universe as a whole, and on views about the significance of human life. The author contends that the questions at issue are ultimately one for philosophical discussion, but that before philosophers can speak, science should present ascertained facts and provisional hypotheses. The book is therefore written with these thoughts in mind while broadly presenting the fundamental physical ideas and findings relevant for a wider philosophical inquiry.

"There is no more eloquent, interesting or persuasive exposition of what may be called science of philosophy than Sir James Jeans's." - The New York TimesCan we have any knowledge of the world outside us other than we gain by the methods of science? Are we humans endowed with free will, or are we mere cogs in a vast machine that must follow its predestined course until it finally runs down? Is the world we perceive the world of ultimate reality, or is it only a curtain veiling a deeper reality beyond?In this strikingly lucid and often poetic book, one of the twentieth century's greatest scientists grapples with these age-old questions, achieving in the process a brilliant and non-technical exposition of the interrelationship between physics and philosophy. He begins by defining physics and philosophy, pointing out the difference in their respective attempts to explain physical reality and man's place in it. This discussion paves the way for an outline of epistemological methods in which the rationalism of thinkers like Descartes, Leibniz, and Kant is compared to the empiricism of Locke and Hume.Over the course of the book, in a manner that is careful and methodic but never dull, Jeans marshals the evidence for his startling conclusion: recent discoveries in astronomy, mathematics, sub-atomic physics, and other disciplines have washed away the scientific basis of many older philosophic discussions. Such long-standing problems as causality, free will and determinism, the nature of space and time, materialism and mentalism must be considered anew in the light of new knowledge and information attained by twentieth-century physical science. Even then, however, Jeans cautions against drawing any positive conclusions, pointing out that both physics and philosophy are both relatively young and that we are still in Newton's words, like children playing with pebbles on the sea-shore, while the great ocean of truth rolls, unexplored, beyond our reach.Although first published in 1943, nothing in physics has happened to affect Jeans's account in this book; it remains remarkably fresh and undated, a classic exposition of the philosophical implications of scientific knowledge.

This is a new publication of James Jeans' famous book The Mysterious Universe. Despite that there have been advancements, mostly in particle physics and cosmology, which occurred after the publication of this book, it is still one of the masterful presentations of the main ideas of the two major revolutions in fundamental physics in the twentieth century - relativity and quantum mechanics - and their implications for our understanding of the Universe.Perhaps Jeans' most provocative suggestion is: "Many would hold that, from the broad philosophical standpoint, the outstanding achievement of twentieth-century physics is not the theory of relativity with its welding together of space and time, or the theory of quanta with its present apparent negation of the laws of causation, or the dissection of the atom with the resultant discovery that things are not what they seem; it is the general recognition that we are not yet in contact with ultimate reality."From the cover of the 1937 Pelican Books publication: "The Mysterious Universe... at once achieved a tremendous popularity and broke all records for a serious scientific work. It has since been translated into many languages, and is famous throughout the whole of the civilized world."

Die englische Ausgabe dieses Buchs mit dem Originaltitel "The Mysterious Universe" ist als popul res Wissenschaftsbuch des britischen Astrophysikers Sir James Jeans zuerst von der Cambridge University Press ver ffentlicht worden. Es enth lt die erweiterte Version eines Vortrags, der vom Autor an der Universit t Cambridge im Jahr 1930 gehalten wurde und beginnt mit dem ganzseitigen Zitat einer ber hmten Passage aus Platons Republik, Buch VII, in welcher das H hlengleichnis der antiken Philosophie erz hlt wird. Der Autor Jeans bezieht sich in seinen Ausf hrungen unter anderem auf die von Max Planck begonnene Quantentheorie der Strahlung, auf Einsteins allgemeine Relativit tstheorie sowie auf die neuen Theorien der Quantenmechanik von Heisenberg und Schr dinger und bietet L sungen f r deren philosophische Verwirrung. Die englische Ausgabe wurde 15 Mal zwischen 1930 und 1938 und zuletzt im September 2007 nachgedruckt. Mit der hier vorliegenden Ausgabe ist nun endlich auch eine aktualisierte deutsche bersetzung erschienen.

First published in 1936, this volume contains six of the Halley Stewart Lectures – originally founded "For Research towards the Christian Ideal in All Social Life" – by some of the greatest of English scientists of the mid-20th century, each a leading authority in his respective field: cosmology, physics, meteorology, medicine and genetics. The final lecture considers the relationship between scientific knowledge and human ideals, commenting on the paradox that a century which produced such scientific advance also witnessed the most concentrated period of social, economic and political turmoil in world history.

First published in 1936, this volume contains six of the Halley Stewart Lectures – originally founded "For Research towards the Christian Ideal in All Social Life" – by some of the greatest of English scientists of the mid-20th century, each a leading authority in his respective field: cosmology, physics, meteorology, medicine and genetics. The final lecture considers the relationship between scientific knowledge and human ideals, commenting on the paradox that a century which produced such scientific advance also witnessed the most concentrated period of social, economic and political turmoil in world history.

The Stars In Their Courses is a book written by James Jeans, a renowned British physicist and astronomer. The book is a comprehensive exploration of the universe, its origins, and its evolution. In the book, Jeans discusses the latest discoveries and theories in the field of astronomy, including the formation of stars and galaxies, the nature of black holes, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Jeans also delves into the philosophical and metaphysical implications of the universe, exploring questions such as the purpose of existence and the meaning of life. The book is written in a clear and accessible style, making it suitable for both experts and lay readers alike. Overall, The Stars In Their Courses is a fascinating and insightful read that offers a deep understanding of the universe and our place within it. It is a must-read for anyone interested in astronomy, science, or philosophy.This is a new release of the original 1931 edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

The Mysterious Universe is a book written by James Jeans that explores the mysteries of the universe. It covers a range of topics related to astronomy and physics, including the origins of the universe, the nature of light and matter, and the behavior of stars and galaxies. Jeans presents complex scientific concepts in an accessible and engaging way, making the book suitable for both scientists and non-scientists alike. Throughout the book, Jeans emphasizes the importance of scientific inquiry and the need for continued exploration and discovery in order to fully understand the universe. The Mysterious Universe is a classic work of science writing that continues to be widely read and studied today.This is a new release of the original 1943 edition.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Originally published in the 1930s. A fascinating book describing the main outlines of such parts of science, both old and new, as are specially related to the questions and problems of music. It conveys such information in a simple non-technical manner making the subject matter of interest to both the amateur and serious student of music. The illustrated contents include detailed chapters on: Tuning Forks and Pure Tones - The Vibrations of Strings and Harmonies - The Vibrations of Air - Harmony and Discord - The Concert Room - Hearing etc. Many of the earliest music books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Home Farm Books are republishing many of these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.

This second edition, originally published in 1929, is an extensive survey at the forefront of cosmology and astronomy with particular reference to the physical state of matter, the structure, composition and life-cycle of stars, and the superstructures of nebulae and galaxies. Intended as a rigourously argued scientific treatise, every effort was made by Jeans to render the results of far-reaching advancements in cosmology intelligible to a broad range of readers.

This is the full text of James Jeans's Rouse Ball Lecture given in 1925 at Cambridge University, and surveys the field of atomic and subatomic physics in the early days of quantum mechanics, with a brief historical perspective on measurement.

Originating from the Rede Lecture delivered at the University of Cambridge in November 1930, this book is based upon the conviction that the teachings and findings of astronomy and physical science are destined to produce an immense change on our outlook on the universe as a whole, and on views about the significance of human life. The author contends that the questions at issue are ultimately one for philosophical discussion, but that before philosophers can speak, science should present ascertained facts and provisional hypotheses. The book is therefore written with these thoughts in mind while broadly presenting the fundamental physical ideas and findings relevant for a wider philosophical inquiry.

The Growth of Physical Science is a detailed but very accessible survey of what began as natural philosophy and culminated in the mid-twentieth century as quantum physical science. From the earliest physical investigations of nature made by the various civilisations of Babylonia, Phoenicia and Egypt (a period covering 5000–600 BC), through the remarkable mathematical and philosophical achievements of the ancient Greeks, to the ages of Newton and then Einstein, Rutherford and Bohr, Jeans has written a comprehensive history of this tremendous advancement in our understanding of the universe, one that will appeal to a broad range of readers interested in this subject.

Problems of Cosmogony and Stellar Dynamics is a theoretical prelude to Jeans's later and more mature work on the subject, Astronomy and Cosmogony. The impetus for publishing his theories on the behaviour of rotating masses, and on general dynamical theory, was the 1917 Adams Prize on the 'rotating and gravitating fluid mass'. Jeans won the prize with the core text of this volume. Enlarging on that work, and utilising the burgeoning results of astronomy, as well as the author's bolder theoretical conjectures, this book became a solid foundation for substantial progress in cosmology.

Stars in Their Courses is an introduction, originally published in 1934, to astronomy and the wonders of the universe brought to us by the technology of the telescope. The book is illustrated with a large number of photographs, and was especially written for readers with no previous scientific knowledge.

Published in 1934 as a second edition to James Jeans' popular work on the general understanding of the physical universe, The New Background of Science took advantage of a comparatively 'quiescent' period in physical investigation when fundamental theories and findings gained wide acceptance. Jeans' aim in writing this book was to depict this 'situation in broad outline and in the simplest possible terms. I have drawn my picture against a roughly sketched background of rudimentary philosophy... because I believe, in common with most scientific workers, that without a background of this kind we can neither see our fresh knowledge as a consistent whole, nor appreciate its significance to the full.'

This book can be described as a student's edition of the author's Dynamical Theory of Gases. It is written, however, with the needs of the student of physics and physical chemistry in mind, and those parts of which the interest was mainly mathematical have been discarded. This does not mean that the book contains no serious mathematical discussion; the discussion in particular of the distribution law is quite detailed; but in the main the mathematics is concerned with the discussion of particular phenomena rather than with the discussion of fundamentals.