Physics for the Inquiring Mind: The Methods, Nature, and Philosophy of Physical Science

by Eric M. Rogers

In our scientific age an understanding of physics is part of a liberal education. Lawyers, bankers, governors, business heads, administrators, all wise educated people need a lasting understanding of physics so that they can enjoy those contacts with science and scientists that are part of our civilization both materially and intellectually. They need knowledge and understanding instead of the feelings, all too common, that physics is dark and mysterious and that physicists are a strange people with incomprehensible interests. Such a sense of understanding science and scientists can be gained neither from sermons on the beauty of science nor from the rigorous courses that colleges have offered for generations; when the headache clears away it leaves little but a confused sense of mystery. Nor is the need met by survey courses that offer a smorgasbord of tidbit--they give science a bad name as a compendium of information or formulas.


The non-scientist needs a course of study that enables him to learn real science and make its own--with delight. For lasting benefits the intelligent non-scientist needs a course of study that enables him to learn genuine science carefully and then encourages him to think about it and use it. He needs a carefully selected framework of topics--not so many that learning becomes superficial and hurried; not so few that he misses the connected nature of scientific work and thinking. He must see how scientific knowledge is built up by building some scientific knowledge of his own, by reading and discussing and if possible by doing experiments himself. He must think his own way through some scientific arguments. He must form his own opinion, with guidance, concerning the parts played by experiment and theory; and he must be shown how to develop a taste for good theory. He must see several varieties of scientific method at work. And above all, he must think about science for himself and enjoy that. These are the things that this book encourages readers to gain, by their own study and thinking.



Physics for the Inquiring Mind is a book for the inquiring mind of students in college and for other readers who want to grow in scientific wisdom, who want to know what physics really is.

Genres: Physics

792 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1960

Reviews

[Юля Трикоз · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read it completely. It is complicated for me, but I find it curious. Sometimes, when I want to know something new about how physics works, I take it again and read some parts. Phisycs - this is not just formulas, like we were teached in school. In this book author opens page by page history of science, life, problems of phisycs scientists and theory. And first that author suggest to reader, not to believe in physics lows, but do simple experiment again and again and make conclusions by ourselves. And only then read forward.
(В русском переводе книга называется "Физика для любознательных", Эрик Роджерс)

[Frank Minich · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book began fairly strong, explaining how Newton built on previous developments. But even in this part, things were kind of confused. It seemed that the author couldn't quite count on the reader having any calculus background in places, but having such in others. He surely assumed some familiarity with high school algebra.
And then, the book seemed to fall-apart when discussing modern physics. Perhaps the topic is too complicated for non-mathematical readers, but I expected more for my 'inquiring mind'.

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although the language is quite dated (female pronouns are not used to refer to engineers, doctors, etc), the guy was awarded the Oerstead Medal and this gem of a text explains why. Good enough that, despite being 40+ years old, I used it as a primary course text a few times.