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Evolution of Scientific Thought from Newton to Einstein (2nd Edition)
Evolution of Scientific Thought from Newton to Einstein - 2nd Edition Author:A. d'Abro This Dover edition, first published in 1950, is a revised and enlarged version of the work originally published in 1927. — This history first sketches the essential features of Newton's great discoveries, and the apparent inevitableness of absolute space and time in classic science; then Riemann's non-euclidean geometry is discussed, and finally ... more »the way in which Einstein transported his ideas into the realm of physics, giving us thereby that supreme achievement of modern thought, the theory of relativity. Although non-technical language is used throughout, great care is given to an accurate presentation of facts.
Part I is devoted to pre-relativity physics and the reasons for its breakdown. Parts II and III are devoted to Einstein's special and general theories of relativity, which rescued physics from the contradictions of classical Newtonian theory. Throughout, d'Abro touches on the contributions of Riemann, Weyl, Lorentz, Planck, Eddington, Maxwell, Hertz, and many others to modern relativity physics. He then closes with a philosophical discussion of the methodology of science and of the general significance of the theory of relativity.« less