Special Theory of Relativity (Routledge Classics) | David Bohm

Special Theory of Relativity (Routledge Classics) | David Bohm | Thorough on the science, astute on the philosophy

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Special Theory of ...

	Special Theory of Relativity (Routledge Classics) David Bohm Routledge, 2006 - 282 pages average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
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In this classic text, David Bohm explores Albert Einstein's celebrated theory of relativity through inspiring and visionary lectures. First published in 1905, Einstein's ideas forever transformed the way we think about time and space. Yet for Bohm the implications of the theory were far more revolutionary both in scope and impact even than this. Stepping back from dense theoretical and scientific detail in this eye-opening work, Bohm describes how the notion of relativity strikes at the heart of our very conception of the universe, whether we are physicists, philosophers or none of the above.

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First-class professional exposition plus deep philosophy

This is a review of the edition of 1965 which appeared in Russian (1967) in my translation. The book contains a thorough exposition of Einstein's special relativity, with a discussion of historical, philosophical and psychological issues. David Bohm's clear and professional style, as well as many deep and original ideas make this book an outstanding course of this important chapter of theoretical physics, being of great value not only for students, but also for both actively working specialists in physics and philosophy of science, and even for serious laymen. I especially recommend the Chapter 25 (Falsificability of theories) as an excellent food for thought.

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Thorough on the science, astute on the philosophy

A thorough but very down-to-earth introduction to the math, physics and philosophy of special relativity, and some of the history leading to its development. Bohm is such a first-rate physicist (well known for his original theorizing about quantum reality) and also a superb teacher who understands where others are coming from. The best quality is his well-rounded understanding of human cognition as it relates to the concepts of the relativity of space and time, matter and energy, etc. A long and really worthwhile appendix discusses Piaget's models of how children form ideas about space, time, permanence, change, etc., and, since we were all children once, the source of many of the metaphors and thought patterns that we bring to our understanding of classical space and time, and also relativity. He argues -- and shows -- that relativity's ideas of flexible space, time, etc., are actually close in structure to a child's notion of the world and therefore not so counter-intuitive as we often think they are. Indeed, his constant message is, "This isn't really so hard, nor is it really as strange as it's made out to be." He shows the errors of the absolutism (and arrogance, really) that grew out of Galileo's and Newton's approaches toward "eternal verities" about the universe, and finds in relativity not only a different approach toward space, time, matter, energy, etc., but toward doing science.
In the process he does a LOT of math, and relates the formulas to the philosophy and threory he expounds. The math is not hard -- almost no calculus, mostly algebra, a little trigonometry. If you really study this, you can have a very deep understanding of why special relativity concludes what it does. The discussion of Minkowski's geometrical approach is very helpful and complements well the earlier algebraic treatment of the Lorentz transformations.
I've read quite a few popular books on special relativity and this is definitely among the very best. Bohm converses with the reader, doesn't talk down, and is wise, not cute, about the most surprising aspects of the theory. He clearly has thought deeply about the meaning of special relativity, and I came away feeling fortunate for having one of the great physics minds of our century share his creative insights and many years of experience with me. His thinking has a broad reach -- he refers to Thomas Kuhn several times, and his focus on the physical experience behind our abstract concepts reminded me of Lakoff and Núñez's groundbreaking "Where Mathematics Comes From," and Lakoff and Johnson's "Metaphors We Live By" (both written well after this 1965 book). I feel I understand not only special relativity better, but science in general and its place in our thought.

There are a few small drawbacks. I found myself skipping over some of the tedious derivations of the formulas and picking up without missing anything. The edition I read (Routledge, ppbk 1996) has a few minor math mistakes, which is a pain when you're trying to follow the steps carefully. But all-in-all I found myself eager to come back to the book until I finished it, and I've underlined so much that I'll be going back to it again soon, I think.

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