The Cosmic Microwave Background: Historical and Philosophical Lessons
Author(s): Milan M. Cirkovic Slobodan Perovic (Author)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Publication Date: 27 Jun. 2024
Language: English
Print length: 216 pages
ISBN-10: 110884460X
ISBN-13: 9781108844604
Book Description
The untold story of how the cosmic microwave background radiation was interpreted following its discovery is a modern case study of theory building within the history and philosophy of science. It examines the epistemological factors at play between the emerging scientific orthodoxy of the Big Bang theory and its alternatives.
Editorial Reviews
Review
‘The Cosmic Microwave Background by Slobodan Perovic and Milan M. Cirkovic is a very welcome addition to the recent literature on the history and philosophy of experiment. The central focus is on the role that the discovery of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) played in the establishment of the currently accepted ‘hot big bang’ theory of the origin of the universe. The authors also devote considerable discussion to the explanations of the CMB provided by alternative models of the origin, illustrating the complex relation between evidence and theory in cosmology. The discussion of the historical and philosophical issues is clear and well-written and will be understandable and valuable to those who are not expert in physics and cosmology. I strongly recommend it.’ Allan Franklin, University of Colorado, Boulder
‘Perović and Ćirković weave a fascinating and nuanced tapestry of history and epistemology. Not only is the historical narrative valuable in its own right, but the book really shines because of the pay-offs for both philosophers and physicists that arise from its rich historical analysis. The real story of the cosmic microwave background, in all its gritty detail, ultimately provides an even stronger methodological underpinning than the pristine textbook version that the authors set out to rectify.’ Niels Martens, Utrecht University
‘As the subtitle states, this is a book on the history and philosophy of the CMB. However, it does not stray far from actual physics, and points are made with the help of concrete examples … The emphasis is on what the CMB can tell us about how science is (and has been) done … It is thus a good book for those with such knowledge who want to learn more about the history and philosophy of the field in the context of a concrete example …’ Phillip Helbig, The Observatory
Book Description
Explanations of the cosmic microwave background prompt this unique case study of theory building in modern science.
About the Author
Slobodan Perović is a professor of philosophy and history of science at the University of Belgrade. . He earned his Ph.D. at York University, Toronto, in 2005, and held teaching and research positions at Carleton University and the University of Pittsburgh, before returning to join the faculty in Belgrade in 2010. He is the principal convener of the ‘Philosophy of Scientific Experimentation’ conference series, and is author of From Data to Quanta: Niels Bohr’s Vision of Physics (University of Chicago Press, 2021).
Milan M. Ćirković is a senior researcher at the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade. He also holds an adjunct position at the Future of Humanity Institute, University of Oxford. He has broad research interests in applying philosophical ideas to diverse areas including astrobiology and global catastrophic risks. His previous books include The Astrobiological Landscape: Philosophical Foundations of the Study of Cosmic Life (Cambridge University Press, 2012) and The Great Silence: Science and Philosophy of Fermi’s Paradox (Oxford University Press, 2018).
Wow! eBook
