[How is Quantum Field Theory Possible?] [Author: Auyang, Sunny Y.] [August, 1995]

by Sunny Y. Auyang

How can we know the microscopic world without a measurement theory? What are the general conditions of the world that make possible such knowledge? What are the presuppositions of physical theories? This book includes an analysis of quantum field theory, and quantum mechanics and interacting systems are addressed in a unified framework.

Genres: Philosophy, Physics, Science

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Difficult but essential reading. I know many philosophers in the realism camp that completely ignore the messy implications of QFT, but Auyang goes straight into the heart of the beast. This is a fine and concise introduction to everything from manifolds to renormalization. Have some reference (even Wikipedia) handy as you read.

[Giovanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This kind of books are needed. A deep look into the interpretation of QFT, beyond the quick and superficial statements. A difficult take, which this book partially fails.

There is the physics and then there is the philosophy. I found the former clean and to the point, although a bit dry of math. By design, for sure. The author clearly has a solid grasp of QFT and it shows.
But then the philosophical mambo jambo starts, and it quickly becomes very difficult to follow.

The image I had in my mind was of a paved road that becomes a large dirty unpaved road, then a path, a small track in the forest and finally you find yourself in the middle of high bushes with no exit. Lost.

Some small clear points still emerge even towards the end (local symmetries, renormalisation, interaction, etc) but it is all diluted in unintelligible pages about Kant and definitions of “objects”.
A bit disappointing, overall. But still worth a read.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank god for contextual pictures. Good philosophy, not too many numbers. Recommended!