Historical Approach to Physics according to Kant, Einstein, and Hegel

TL;DR

This paper explores the philosophical foundations of physics, comparing Kant, Einstein, and Hegel, and discusses efforts to synthesize relativity and quantum mechanics.

Contribution

It offers a philosophical perspective on the development of physical theories and examines the synthesis of relativity and quantum mechanics.

Findings

Einstein's relativity is rooted in Kantian philosophy.

Hegelian synthesis is analogous to combining different physical theories.

Efforts to unify relativity and quantum mechanics are analyzed.

Abstract

It is known that Einstein's conceptual base for his theory of relativity was the philosophy formulated by Immanuel Kant. Things appear differently to observers in different frames. However, Kant's Ding-an-Sich leads to the existence of the absolute reference frame which is not acceptable in Einstein's theory. It is possible to avoid this conflict using the ancient Chinese philosophy of Taoism where two different views can co-exist in harmony. This is not enough to explain Einstein's discovery of the mass-energy relation. The energy-momentum relations for slow and ultra-fast particles take different forms. Einstein was able to synthesize these two formulas to create his energy-mass relation. Indeed, this is what Hegelianism is about in physics. Isaac Newton synthesized open orbits for comets and closed orbits for planets to create his second law of motion. Maxwell combined electricity and magnetism to create his four equations to the present-day wireless world. In order to synthesize wave and particle views of matter, Heisenberg formulated his uncertainty principle. Relativity and quantum mechanics are the two greatest theories formulated in the 20th Century. Efforts to synthesize these two theories are discussed in detail.