Archimedes; or, the future of physics

The author argues that physics, biology, and psychology are converging on a unified study of the electrical processes underlying radiation, chemical bonding, and life. He reviews competing atomic views—discrete electron jumps, limits on simultaneous measurement, and wave descriptions—relates these to philosophical and scientific debates about the nature of time, and examines experimental and evolutionary approaches to bridging physical and biological explanation. Later chapters consider the implications of atomic theory for nervous activity and consciousness, survey methodological clashes between scientists and philosophers, and sketch possible future directions and responsibilities as scientific understanding grants greater control over living and mental processes.