Physical Reality – Construction or Discovery? An Introduction to the Methodology and Aims of Physics

This book offers a well-grounded account of the methodology of physics, the structure of physical knowledge and theories, and in particular of the relations between theory and experience. An important feature of the book is that all its essential conclusions are elucidated with the help of representative examples from theoretical, molecular and solid state physics.

The comprehensively revised new edition provides, beside further examples and additions, numerous text restructurings and shortenings that focus on the basic argumentation. This particularly applies to the section on theoretical methodology, the section on axiomatization and the conception of closed theories, the section with the definition, status and methodological function of physical laws, and section on the methods of consistent adjustment. Overall, these improvements will contribute to a more readable text and a better understanding of the basic arguments.

Michael Grodzicki obtained a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Hamburg, Germany, in 1977. After the habilitation in theoretical physics (Hamburg 1986) he worked as research associate at HASYLAB, Hamburg, as Assistant Professor of theoretical organic chemistry at LSU, New Orleans, and was head of the theoretical physics group, University of Lübeck. Since 1998 he is Senior Scientist and Associate Professor (2002-2006; 2009: Hon-Prof.) at the Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials, University of Salzburg. His scientific research comprises more than 230 publications in mathematical physics, molecular and solid state physics, theoretical chemistry, bioinorganic chemistry, mineralogy, and methodology of physics. His book on ”Physical Reality” is the result of an almost 40 years lasting teaching experience, especially in theoretical physics and methodology of physics for future high-school teachers.