[Phys-L] Re: metaphysics

[rtarara at SAINTMARYS.EDU (Rick Tarara)]

The thread title is important here, but in Anthony's example, Kinematics can
tell us HOW.  We turn to the Dynamics to approach the question WHY.  To be
sure, we can only construct models to attempt answers--in Newtonian physics
we have the FORCE model, today we tend to think in terms of FIELDS, but what
are these models about if not to try and answer the WHY question?

Rick


----- Original Message -----
From: "Anthony Lapinski" <anthony_lapinski@PDS.ORG>
To: <PHYS-L@LISTS.NAU.EDU>
Sent: Friday, December 10, 2004 7:43 AM
Subject: Re: metaphysics


> Interesting commentary! I had a physics teacher in college who said,
> "Physics explains how, not why." It's so true. Nobody really knows WHY
> gravity exists, but we understand very well HOW objects fall.