Combinatorial Physics (Series on Knots and Everything)

An essay in the conceptual foundations of physics. Its purpose is to introduce what is called a combinatorial approach. The authors aim to reinstate a spirit of philosophical enquiry in physics. They abandon the intuitive continuum concepts and build up constructively a combinatorial mathematics of process. This radical change alone makes it possible to calculate the coupling constants of the fundamental fields which — via high energy scattering — are the bridge from the combinatorial world into dynamics. The untenable distinction between what is ‘observed', or measured, and what is not, upon which current quantum theory is based, is not needed. If we are to speak of mind, this has to be present — albeit in primitive form — at the most basic level, and not to be dragged in at one arbitrary point to avoid the difficulties about quantum observation. There is a growing literature on information-theoretic models for physics, but hitherto the two disciplines have gone in parallel. In this book they interact vitally. Ch. 1. Introduction and summary of chapters -- ch. 2. Space -- ch. 3. Complementarity and all that -- ch. 4. The simple case for a combinatorial physics -- ch. 5. A hierarchical model - some introductory arguments -- ch. 6. A hierarchical combinatorial model - full treatment -- ch. 7. Scattering and coupling constants -- ch. 8. Quantum numbers and the particle -- ch. 9. Toward the continuum -- ch. 10. Objectivity and subjectivity - some 'isms' Abandoning the intuitive continuum concepts in physics, the authors build up constructively a combinatorial mathematics of process. This change alone makes it possible to calculate the coupling constants of the fundamental fields which are the bridge between the combinatorial world and dynamics. T. Bastin, C.w. Kilmister. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 165-167) And Indexes.