{"product_id":"the-electric-theories-of-j-alan-aversa-9783319185149","title":"The Electric Theories of J. Clerk Maxwell: A Historical and Critical Study","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this volume Pierre Duhem first gives an overview of 19\u003csup\u003eth\u003c\/sup\u003e century electricity and magnetism. Next, he applies his keen historical, philosophical, and physical intuition to critiquing Maxwell's theories, especially his electromagnetic theory of light and the \u003ci\u003ead hoc\u003c\/i\u003e introduction of displacement current, which he considers too much a product of the \"\u003ci\u003eesprit de géométrie\u003c\/i\u003e\" than the \"\u003ci\u003eesprit de finesse\u003c\/i\u003e,\" as Pascal calls it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this book, Duhem is guided by the principle that a theory that offers contradictions, even if the theory is posed by a genius, needs to be analysed and discussed until a clear distinction can be made between the propositions likely to be logically demonstrated and statements that offend logic and which must be transformed or rejected. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFurthermore, Duhem felt, in criticizing such a theory one must guard against narrowness of mind and petty corrections which would make one forget the merit of the inventor; and, more importantly, one must guard against the blind superstition which, for admiration of the author, would hide the serious defects of the work. He is not so great a genius that he surpasses the laws of reason.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePierre Duhem (1861-1916), chairman of theoretical physics at Bordeaux in 1984-1916, is well-known for his works in the history and philosophy of science.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alan Aversa, Pierre Maurice Marie Duhem\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 3319185144\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9783319185149\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Springer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/11\/2015\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 185\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.02lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.21h x 6.14w x 0.50d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eChoice\u003c\/i\u003e 04\/01\/2016","brand":"Alan Aversa","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44125952901375,"sku":"9783319185149","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_6a0fb59a-3c8b-41b3-af88-f7c57c1ee40e.jpg?v=1687445484","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-electric-theories-of-j-alan-aversa-9783319185149","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}