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IONS philosophy

REPOSTING; LOST (?) IN THE HURRICANE

At the end is a private message I received this morning.
By the way, why was it addressed to me rather that to phys-L?

In any case, it reminds of another old thread, the "nature
of explanations". Not everything can be explained in terms
of something more fundamental in physics. Some basic
phenomena, like axioms in mathematics, must be
accepted and described (on the basis of observations and
measurements). Then we use them to EXPLAIN other
things.

Production of measurable B fields by moving charges is
one of such phenomena. An Aristotelian physicist would
say "It is in the nature of current to produce magnetic field".
S/he would also say that the nonconductivity of dielectrics
is "in the nature of these substances". But this brings an
important question. How many axioms can we have without
becoming non-scientific factologists? Let a philosopher
answer this question.

Recognizing facts is one thing, constructing logical
structures is another. Physics consists of logical
structures, it begins with data and it generates self-
consistent theories. Which items should be used as
basic (no explanations needed) is a matter of agreement
among the practitioners. Explanations are logical
(mathematical and linguistic) structures.

I was under the impression that the non-conductivity of
dielectrics can be explained. It used to be merely accepted
by Giblet, du Fay and Franklin. But I do not know how to
explain it. That why all those messages on the IONS thread
were posted. I think that I am not the only one who is
waiting for helpful suggestions.

Ludwik Kowalski
*****************************************

... A very simple question for which I have been looking
for an answer, and have been looking for a long time, is:

Why does an electron produces a magnetic field when it
moves from point A to point B? .... I enjoy the privilege of
using this phenomenon every day of my life, and it really
frustrates me that there seems to be no common sense
explanation that I can find. I keep searching in order that
I can explain it to my students.

Now, I simply shrug my shoulders and say "God made it
that way". I seem to be doing that a lot nowadays.