Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T04:13:08.325Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Demonstrative Induction: Its Significant Role in the History of Physics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 March 2022

Jon Dorling*
Affiliation:
University of London

Abstract

It is argued in this paper that the valid argument forms coming under the general heading of Demonstrative Induction have played a highly significant role in the history of theoretical physics. This situation was thoroughly appreciated by several earlier philosophers of science and deserves to be more widely known and understood.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1973 by The Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

[1] Ampère, A.-M. Théorie Mathématique des Phénomènes Électro-Dynamiques Uniquement Déduite de l'Expérience, Paris, 1827. (Reprinted, 1958.)Google Scholar
[2] Broad, C. D.The Principle of Demonstrative Induction.” Mind 39 (1930).Google Scholar
[3] Cantor, G. N.Henry Brougham and the Scottish Methodological Tradition.” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 2 (1971).10.1016/0039-3681(71)90038-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
[4] Coulomb, C.-A. de. “Deuxième Mémoire sur l'Électricité et le Magnétisme.” Mémoires de l'Académie royale des Sciences, 1785. (Reprinted in Collection de Mémoires relatifs à la Physique, Vol. 1. Mémoires de Coulomb. Paris, 1884.)Google Scholar
[5] Dirac, P. A. M. “The Quantum Theory of the Electron.” Proceedings of the Royal Society. Vol. A117, 1928.Google Scholar
[6] Dirac, P. A. M. The Principles of Quantum Mechanics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1930.Google Scholar
[7] Dorling, J.Maxwell's Attempts to Arrive at Non-Speculative Foundations for the Kinetic Theory.” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 1 (1970).10.1016/0039-3681(70)90011-7CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[8] Dorling, J.Einstein's Introduction of Photons: Argument by Analogy or Deduction from the Phenomena?British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 22 (1971).10.1093/bjps/22.1.1CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[9] Dorling, J.Bayesianism and the Rationality of Scientific Inference.” British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 23 (1972).10.1093/bjps/23.2.181CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[10] Dorling, J.Henry Cavendish's Deduction of the Electrostatic Inverse Square Law from the Result of a Single Experiment.” Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 4 (1973). (In the press.)Google Scholar
[11] Einstein, A.Zur Elektrodynamik bewegter Körper.” Annalen der Physik 17 (1905). (English translation in Einstein, A., et al., The Principle of Relativity, London: Methuen, 1923.)Google Scholar
[12] Einstein, A. “Die Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie.” Annalen der Physik 49 (1916). (English translation in Einstein, A., et al., The Principle of Relativity, London, 1923.)Google Scholar
[13] Einstein, A. “Zur Quantentheorie der Strahlung.” Physikalische Zeitschrift 18 (1917). (English translation in D. ter Haar, The Old Quantum Theory, Oxford, 1967.)Google Scholar
[14] Einstein, A. The Meaning of Relativity. London, 1922. (Republished by Princeton University Press, 1956.)10.1007/978-94-011-6022-3CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[15] Heilbron, J. L. and Kuhn, T. S.The Genesis of the Bohr Atom.” Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences 1 (1969).10.2307/27757291CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[16] Heisenberg, W. The Physical Principles of the Quantum Theory. New York: Dover Publications, 1930.Google Scholar
[17] Herschel, J. F. W. A Preliminary Discourse on the Study of Natural Philosophy. London, 1831. (Republished by Carey, Lea, and Blanchard, Philadelphia, 1835.)10.1037/11845-000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[18] Johnson, W. E. Logic. vol. 2, Cambridge, 1922.Google Scholar
[19] Kyburg, H. E.Demonstrative Induction.” Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 21 (1960).10.2307/2104790CrossRefGoogle Scholar
[20] Kyburg, H. E. Induction and Probability. New York: Macmillan, 1970.Google Scholar
[21] Maxwell, J. C.A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field.” Philosophical Transactions. vol. 155, 1865.Google Scholar
[22] Maxwell, J. C. Scientific Papers. Vol. 1. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1890. (Republished by Dover Publications, New York, 1952.)Google Scholar
[23] Maxwell, J. C. A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1873.Google Scholar
[24] Maxwell, J. C.On the Dynamical Evidence for the Molecular Constitution of Bodies.” Nature 11 (1875).Google Scholar
[25] Maxwell, J. C. The Electrical Researches of the Honourable Henry Cavendish, F.R.S. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1879.Google Scholar
[26] Weber, W. “Elektrodynamische Maassbestimmungen über ein allgemeines Grundgesetz der elektrischen Wirkung.” Werke 3 (1893). (Partial English translation in R. Taylor (ed.), Scientific Memoirs. Vol. V, Natural Philosophy. London, 1853.)Google Scholar
[27] Whittaker, E. T. A History of the Theories of Aether and Electricity. Vol. 1. London, 1951. (Republished by Humanities Press, New York.)Google Scholar