How do we get an idea from the physical world? There is basically only one possibility, namely to dialogue with nature, that is, we create a theoretical conception of the world by thinking, and then we check this conception with the help of measuring instruments. In this connection the following question arises: does there exist for each element of the theory an element-specific deflection at the measuring instrument? In other words, has each element of the theory a counterpart in the actual reality? If not, then the theory contains metaphysical elements, ie. elements which have no counterpart in reality. In this book it is argued that there are obviously no theoretical conceptions of the world which are free of metaphysical elements. This is not only valid in connection with matter but also for the conceptions of space and time. The consequences in connection with modern conceptions of the world are outlined.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
The observable and the non-observable; the positivism and materialism; conventional elementary particles; connection of theory and relativity with quantum theory; superstrings and twistors; physical realities; basic reality and levels of reality; objectivity; strategy of nature; inside world and outside world; correlations in space; where does a mathematical formula come from?; what is a mechanism?; space and time; diversity of spaces; alternative world views; what has priority - logic or experiment?; quantum theory is not an extended form of classical mechanics!; fictitious realities.
