The Science of Mechanics by Ernst Mach

The Science of Mechanics by Ernst Mach

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The Science of Mechanics by Ernst Mach

Ernst Mach (1838-1916), the first scientist to study objects moving faster than the speed of sound, propounded a scientific philosophy which called for a strict adherence to observable data. He maintained that the sole purpose of scientific study is to provide the simplest possible description of detectable phenomena. In this work, first published in German in 1883 and here translated in 1893 by Thomas J. McCormack (1865-1932) from the 1888 second edition, Mach begins with a historical discussion of mechanical principles. He then proceeds to a critique of Newton's concept of 'absolute' space and time, reflecting Mach's rejection of theoretical concepts in the absence of definitive evidence. Although historically controversial, Mach's ideas and attitudes informed philosophers as influential as Russell and Wittgenstein, and his insistence upon a 'relative' idea of space and time provided much of the philosophical basis for Einstein's theory of general relativity decades later.
SKU Unavailable
ISBN 13 9781015628243
ISBN 10 1015628249
Title The Science of Mechanics
Author Ernst Mach
Condition Unavailable
Binding Type Hardback
Publisher Legare Street Press
Year published 2022-10-26
Number of pages 558
Cover note Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.