Spencer Heath Archive

Item 151

November 7, 1943

Eddington — The Philosophy of Physical Science 1939, p.18.

“The modern theories of physics have emancipated us from certain traditional forms of thought. That is why they seem

so ___________ . Is this the end of the advance, or do there

remain in our outlook other forms of thought obstructing progress from which future physicists will succeed in freeing themselves?”

p. 15 “The physicist (scientist?) is not interested in special facts except as material for generalization.”

November 10, 1943

Eddington — Space, Time and Gravitation, 1920, p. 29.

“The relativity standpoint is then a discarding of certain hypotheses which are uncalled for by any known facts, and stand in the way of an understanding of the simplicity of nature.”

P. 30 quotes Minkowski thus: “From henceforth space in itself and time in itself sink to mere shadows, and only a kind of union of the two preserves an independent existence.”

Eddington’ constant hypothesis is an aether. I don’t believe this is “called for by any known facts.” and it does “stand in the way of an understanding … etc.

P. 147 “Action is thus mass multiplied by time, or energy multiplied by time, and is more fundamental than either.”

“Action is the curvature of the world.”  (Bah!)

P. 150  “There is no fundamental mesh system.”