A Changing Dichotomy: The Conception of the "Macroscopic" and "Microscopic" Worlds in the History of Physics

TL;DR

This paper explores the historical evolution of the concepts of 'micro' and 'macro' in physics over five centuries, highlighting how scientific and philosophical meanings have changed with scientific progress.

Contribution

It provides a detailed historical analysis of how the ideas of micro- and macroscopicity have developed and shifted in scientific thought across different eras.

Findings

The meanings of micro- and macroscopicity have evolved over five centuries.

Scientific progress influences the conceptual boundaries of small and large.

The history reflects changing interactions between humans and the natural world.

Abstract

This short essay traces the conceptual history of micro- and macroscopicity in the context of physical science. By focusing on three distinct episodes spanning five centuries, we show the scientific and philosophical meanings of this antonym pair, despite never being far from "the small" and "the large," have been evolving as the frontier of science advances. We analyze the intellectual and material impetus for these movements, and conclude that this conceptual history reflects the changing interaction between the natural world and humankind.