{"product_id":"the-science-of-mechanics-a-critical-and-historical-exposition-of-its-principles-paperback-9781108066488","title":"The Science of Mechanics; A Critical and Historical Exposition of its Principles (Paperback \/ softback) 9781108066488","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Science of Mechanics\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eA Critical and Historical Exposition of its Principles\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe 1893 English translation of the 1888 second German edition of Ernst Mach's historical and philosophical account of mechanics.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eErnst Mach (Author), Thomas J. McCormack (Translated by)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781108066488, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 24 October 2013\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e556 pages, 235 b\/w illus.\u003cbr\u003e21.6 x 14 x 3.2 cm, 0.7 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eErnst 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.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eTranslator's preface\u003cbr\u003e Author's preface to the translation\u003cbr\u003e Preface to the first edition\u003cbr\u003e Preface to the second edition\u003cbr\u003e Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 1. The development of the principles of statics\u003cbr\u003e 2. The development of the principles of dynamics\u003cbr\u003e 3. The extended application of the principles of mechanics and the deductive development of the science\u003cbr\u003e 4. The formal development of mechanics\u003cbr\u003e 5. The relation of mechanics to the departments of knowledge\u003cbr\u003e Appendix\u003cbr\u003e Chronological table\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: History of science [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on History of science\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22History%20of%20science%20%5BPDX%5D%22\"\u003ePDX\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46004790821144,"sku":"9781108066488","price":40.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9781108066488i.jpg?v=1696748637","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-science-of-mechanics-a-critical-and-historical-exposition-of-its-principles-paperback-9781108066488","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}