UFMA14 Physics throughout the History of Human Culture

Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Summer 2014
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. RNDr. Jiří Langer, CSc. (lecturer)
prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Stuchlík, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Zdeněk Stuchlík, CSc.
Centrum interdisciplinárních studií – Faculty of Philosophy and Science in Opava
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal of the present course is a summary and extension of some important parts of physics and demonstration of its relations to philosophy and art.
Syllabus
  • 1. Mathematical axioms and physical principles (nature of the mathematical axioms, non-Euclidean geometry and its relevance, applications of non-Euclidean geometry in physics, roots of rationalism, rationalism versus empirism in modern philosophy, Descartes, Hume, Kant, logical empirism, Popper).
    2. Variational principles in physics (Hamilton and Fermat principle in mathematical details, variational principles in field theory, heuristic role of variational principles. Philosophical impact - economy of nature as a metaprinciple).
    3. Mathematics and art (mathematics of golden section, projective geometry, application in renesance and modern art).
    4. Symmetry in physics (basical invariance of physical laws, crystalic structure of matter, symmetry and idea of beauty, Escher).
    5. Newtonian physics and its cultural impact.
    6. Relativity and its role in modern art.
    7. Determinism and chaos (basoval mathematical description of deterministi chaos, fractal geometry, impact in modern painting).
    8. Modern kosmology and its philosophical consequences.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Jiří Langer. Fyzika v dějinách lidské kultury. URL info
  • Olsen S. Záhadný zlatý řez. Dokořán, Praha, 2009. ISBN 978-80-7363-195-6. info
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information
60% attendance at lectures
The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2010, Summer 2011, Summer 2012, Summer 2013, Summer 2015, Summer 2016, Summer 2017, Summer 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2014, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.slu.cz/course/fpf/summer2014/UFMA14