Robert Weingard
Encyclopedia
Robert Weingard was a philosopher of science and professor
of Rutgers University
.
He became faculty member at Rutgers University
and later joined the Department of Philosophy of Rutger University's School of Arts and Sciences
in 1988. On 14 September 1996, Robert Weingard died of a heart attack; some of his articles were published posthumously.
Weingard supervised the PhD thesis Explaining Time's Arrow (1997) of Craig Callender
, now professor of philosophy at the University of California, San Diego
.
Weingard worked on the philosophy of physics
and the philosophy of space and time
. His interest included in particular the foundations of quantum mechanics
, the de Broglie–Bohm theory and quantum field theory
and relations to quantum cosmology
.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
.
He became faculty member at Rutgers University
Rutgers University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey , is the largest institution for higher education in New Jersey, United States. It was originally chartered as Queen's College in 1766. It is the eighth-oldest college in the United States and one of the nine Colonial colleges founded before the American...
and later joined the Department of Philosophy of Rutger University's School of Arts and Sciences
School of Arts and Sciences (Rutgers University)
The School of Arts and Sciences is an undergraduate constituent school at the New Brunswick-Piscataway area campus of Rutgers University. Established in 2007 from the merger of Rutgers' undergraduate liberal arts colleges and the non-student college known as the "Faculty of Arts and Sciences," the...
in 1988. On 14 September 1996, Robert Weingard died of a heart attack; some of his articles were published posthumously.
Weingard supervised the PhD thesis Explaining Time's Arrow (1997) of Craig Callender
Craig Callender
Craig Callender is a philosopher of science and professor of philosophy at the University of California, San Diego.In 1997 he obtained his PhD from Rutgers University with a thesis entitled Time's Arrow,; his thesis supervisor had been Robert Weingard....
, now professor of philosophy at the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
.
Weingard worked on the philosophy of physics
Philosophy of physics
In philosophy, the philosophy of physics studies the fundamental philosophical questions underlying modern physics, the study of matter and energy and how they interact. The philosophy of physics begins by reflecting on the basic metaphysical and epistemological questions posed by physics:...
and the philosophy of space and time
Philosophy of space and time
Philosophy of space and time is the branch of philosophy concerned with the issues surrounding the ontology, epistemology, and character of space and time. While such ideas have been central to philosophy from its inception, the philosophy of space and time was both an inspiration for and a...
. His interest included in particular the foundations of quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
, the de Broglie–Bohm theory and quantum field theory
Quantum field theory
Quantum field theory provides a theoretical framework for constructing quantum mechanical models of systems classically parametrized by an infinite number of dynamical degrees of freedom, that is, fields and many-body systems. It is the natural and quantitative language of particle physics and...
and relations to quantum cosmology
Quantum cosmology
In theoretical physics, quantum cosmology is a field attempting to study the effect of quantum mechanics on the formation of the universe, or its early evolution, especially just after the Big Bang...
.
Publications
- Robert Weingard: A philosopher looks at string theory. In: Craig Callender, Nick Huggett (eds.): Physics meets philosophy at the Planck scale: contemporary theories in quantum gravity, Cambridge University Press, 2001, ISBN 0-521-66280-X / ISBN 0-521-66445-4, p. 138–151
- Craig Callender, Robert Weingard: Topology change and the unity of space, Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, vol. 31, no. 2, pp. 227–246, 2000, full text
- Nick Huggett, Robert Weingard: Gauge fields, gravity and Bohm's theory. In: Tian Yu Cao (ed.): Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory, Cambridge University Press, 1999, p.287
- Craig Callender, Robert Weingard: Nonlocality in the expanding infinite well, Foundation of Physics Letters, vol. 11, no. 5, pp. 495–498, 1998, full text
- Robert Weingard, Craig Callender: Trouble in paradise: Problems for Bohm's theory, The Monist, Quantum Mechanics and the Real World, vol. 80, no. 1 January 1997, abstract (in French language)
- H. R. Brown, A. Elby, R. Weingard: Cause and effect in the pilot-wave interpretation of quantum mechanics, in “Bohmian Mechanics and Quantum Theory: An Appraisal”, eds. J.T. Cushing, A. Fine and S. Goldstein, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, 1996, pp. 309–319
- Craig Callender, Robert Weingard: Time, Bohm's theory, and quantum cosmology, Philosophy of Science, vol. 63, September 1996, pp. 470–474, abstract
- Nick Huggett, Robert Weingard: Critical Review: Paul Teller's interpretive introduction to quantum field theory, Philosophy of Science, vol. 63, June 1996, pp. 302–314, abstract
- Craig Callender, Robert Weingard: Bohmian cosmology and the quantum smearing of the initial singularity (communicated by Peter R. HollandPeter R. HollandPeter R. Holland is a theoretical physicist, known for his book on the pilot wave theory and the de Broglie-Bohm causal interpretation of quantum mechanics and his work on foundational problems in quantum physics....
), Physics Letters A, Volume 208, Issues 1-2, 20 November 1995, pp. 59-61, abstract - Nick Huggett, Robert Weingard: Interpretations of quantum field theory, Philosophy of Science, 61, 1994, pp. 370–388, abstract
- Craig Callender, Robert Weingard: The Bohmian model of quantum cosmology, Philosophy of Science Association, PSA 1994, Vol. 1, pp. 218–227, abstract
- Nick Huggett, Robert Weingard: On the field aspect of quantum fields, Erkenntnis, vol. 40, no. 3, pp. 293–301, 1994, DOI: 10.1007/BF01128900, abstract
- Robert Weingard, Gerrit Smith: Critical notice: Michael FriedmanMichael Friedman (philosopher)Michael Friedman is a philosopher of science interested in Immanuel Kant and the post-analytic movement in philosophy. Friedman earned his A.B from Queen's College in New York and his PhD from Princeton University. He is Frederick P. Rehmus Family Professor of Humanities at Stanford University...
's Foundations of space-time theories, Philosophy of Science, vol. 53, 1986, pp.286–299, abstract - Robert Weingard: Grand unified gauge theories and the number of elementary particles, Philosophy of Science, vol. 51, 1984, pp.150–155, abstract
- Tobert Weingard, Gerrit Smith: SpinSpin (physics)In quantum mechanics and particle physics, spin is a fundamental characteristic property of elementary particles, composite particles , and atomic nuclei.It is worth noting that the intrinsic property of subatomic particles called spin and discussed in this article, is related in some small ways,...
and space, Synthese, vol. 50, pp. 213–231, 1982, abstract - Robert Weingard: Some philosophical aspects of black holeBlack holeA black hole is a region of spacetime from which nothing, not even light, can escape. The theory of general relativity predicts that a sufficiently compact mass will deform spacetime to form a black hole. Around a black hole there is a mathematically defined surface called an event horizon that...
s, Synthese, Volume 42, Number 1, 191-219, 1979, DOI: 10.1007/BF00413713 abstract - Robert Weingard: Discussion: General relativityGeneral relativityGeneral relativity or the general theory of relativity is the geometric theory of gravitation published by Albert Einstein in 1916. It is the current description of gravitation in modern physics...
and the conceivability of time travelTime travelTime travel is the concept of moving between different points in time in a manner analogous to moving between different points in space. Time travel could hypothetically involve moving backward in time to a moment earlier than the starting point, or forward to the future of that point without the...
, Philosophy of Science, vol. 46, 1979, pp.328–332, abstract - Robert Weingard: Relativity and the spatiality of mental events, Philosophical Studies, vol. 31, no. 4, 1977, pp. 279-284, DOI: 10.1007/BF01855233, abstract
- Robert Weingard: On the unity of space, Philosophical Studies, vol. 29, no. 3, 1976, pp. 215-220, DOI: 10.1007/BF00373159, abstract
- Robert Weingard: On the Ontological Status of the Metric in General Relativity, Journal of Philosophy, vol. 72, August 1975, pp. 426-431.
- Robert Weingard: On Travelling Backward in Time, Synthese, vol. 24 (Issue entitled Space, Time and Geometry), 1972, pp. 115-132, DOI: 10.1007/BF00540145, abstract