Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Natural Constants, philosophy: Natural constants or physical constants are quantities whose value is unchangeable as opposed to changes in space and time. Physical constants are usually stated as a quotient, that is, a ratio of two quantities with respective units of measure._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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John D. Barrow on Natural Constants - Dictionary of Arguments
I 441 Natural constants/Barrow: physical constants contain numbers (such as p) and dimensionless constants (e.g. the ratio of the masses of the electron and the proton). I 492 Natural constants/Barrow: if a constant of nature is not a pure number, but a unit of measurement, e.g. one centimeter, or a meter, the idea does not make sense,that they might change from place to place or in time - (e.g. the speed of light). By a change in the system of measurement it might indeed look as if it would be so. - However a quantity that can be described as a pure number is independent of the units used to calculate its components. If its value changes, it will have a real and observable significance. >Quantities (Physics), >Objectivity, >Constants, >Proportions, >Objectivity/Field, >Physics/Field._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
B I John D. Barrow Warum die Welt mathematisch ist Frankfurt/M. 1996 B II John D. Barrow The World Within the World, Oxford/New York 1988 German Edition: Die Natur der Natur: Wissen an den Grenzen von Raum und Zeit Heidelberg 1993 B III John D. Barrow Impossibility. The Limits of Science and the Science of Limits, Oxford/New York 1998 German Edition: Die Entdeckung des Unmöglichen. Forschung an den Grenzen des Wissens Heidelberg 2001 |
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