Eddington's Search for a Fundamental Theory A Key to the Universe [Paperback]

This 1995 book describes the development of theoretical physics in the first half of this century from the viewpoint of the astrophysicist Arthur Eddington.A reconciliation of theories of the very small and the very large scale is a key issue in physics. Many people are unaware that back in the thirties, Sir Arthur Eddington, the celebrated astrophysicist, made great strides towards his own 'theory of everything'. In 1936 and 1946 Eddington's last two books were published. Unlike his earlier lucid and authoritative works, these are strangely tentative and obscure. This volume examines how Eddington came to write these uncharacteristic books and what value they have to modern physics. The result is a unique, illuminating description of the development of theoretical physics in the first half of the twentieth century. This will provide fascinating reading for scholars in the philosophy of science, theoretical physics, applied mathematics and the history of science.A reconciliation of theories of the very small and the very large scale is a key issue in physics. Many people are unaware that back in the thirties, Sir Arthur Eddington, the celebrated astrophysicist, made great strides towards his own 'theory of everything'. In 1936 and 1946 Eddington's last two books were published. Unlike his earlier lucid and authoritative works, these are strangely tentative and obscure. This volume examines how Eddington came to write these uncharacteristic books and what value they have to modern physics. The result is a unique, illuminating description of the development of theoretical physics in the first half of the twentieth century. This will provide fascinating reading for scholars in the philosophy of science, theoretical physics, applied mathematics and the history of science.Many people today are unaware that back in the 1930s, Sir Arthur Eddington, the celebrated astrophysicist, made great strides toward his own theory of everything . In 1936 and 1946 Eddington's l#v