书名：The Character of Physical Law物理定律的本性

作者：Richard P Feynman

出版社名称：Penguin

出版时间：2007

语种：英文

ISBN：9780140175059

商品尺寸：12.9 x 1.1 x 19.8 cm

包装：平装

页数：192（以实物为准）

The Character of Physical Law《物理定律的本性》共分七章，是R·P·费曼教授在美国康奈尔大学所做的梅森哲讲座系列讲演。这些讲演的听众，是希望更加普遍地了解“物理定律的本性”的大学生。这些讲演并不是按照准备好的稿子宣讲的，而是根据一份简略的纲要即席发挥的。

费曼教授具有作为一位演说家的国际声誉，而且亦以其激动人心的讲授风格而闻名。想要对物理学定律有更加清晰理解的物理系学生，将会从其中收获许多论证的启示。而那些对于费曼教授演讲感兴趣的观众，也可以从本书中，获得引导性的帮助。 This book presents a series of classic lectures, delivered in 1960 and recorded for the BBC. This is Feynman's unique take on the problems and puzzles that lie at the heart of physical theory - with Newton's Law of Gravitation; on whether time can ever go backwards; on maths as the supreme language of nature. Demonstrates Feynman's knack of finding the right everyday illustration to bring out the essence of a complicated principle – eg. brilliant analogy between the law of conservation energy and the problem of drying yourself with wet towels. Review'Feynman's style inspired a generation of scientists. This volume remains the best record I know of his exhilarating vision' --Paul Davies

R·P·费曼（1918～1988）是加州理工学院的物理学教授。1965年，他因量子电动力学方面的研究荣获诺贝尔物理学奖。

Richard P. Feynman (1918-1988) was one of this century's most brilliant theoretical physicists and original thinkers. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1965 for his work on QED. Books by Feynman in Penguin include The Character of Physical Law, Six Easy Pieces and Six Not-So-Easy Pieces.

1.The Law of Gravitation, an example of Physical Law

2.The Relation of Mathematics to Physics 3.The Great Conservation Principles 4.Symmetry in Physical Law 5.The Distinction of Past and Future 6.Probability and Uncertainty - the Quantum Mechanical view of Nature 7.Seeking New Laws

It is odd, but on the infrequent occasions when I have been called upon in a formal place to play the bongo drums, the introducer never seems to find it necessary to mention that I also do theoretical physics. I believe that is probably because we respect the arts more than the sciences. The artists of the Renaissance said that man’s main concern should be for man, and yet there are other things of interest in the world. Even the artists appreciate sunsets, and the ocean waves, and the march of the stars across the heavens. There is then some reason to talk of other things sometimes. As we look into these things we get an aesthetic pleasure from them directly on observation. There is also a rhythm and a pattern between the phenomena of nature which is not apparent to the eye, but only to the eye of analysis; and it is these rhythms and patterns which we call Physical Laws. What I want to discuss in this series of lectures is the general characteristic of these Physical Laws; that is another level, if you will, of higher generality over the laws themselves. Really what I am considering is nature as seen as a result of detailed analysis, but mainly I wish to speak about only the most overall general qualities of nature.

Now such a topic has a tendency to become too philosophical because it becomes so general, and a person talks in such generalities, that everybody can understand him. It is then considered to be some deep philosophy. I would like to be rather more special, and I would like to be understood in an honest way rather than in a vague way. So in this first lecture I am going to try to give, instead of only the generalities, an example of physical law, so that you have at least one example of the things about which I am speaking generally. In this way I can use this example again and again to give an instance, or to make a reality out of something which will otherwise be too abstract. I have chosen for my special example of physical law the theory of gravitation, the phenomena of gravity. Why I chose gravity I do not know. Actually it was one of the first great laws to be discovered and it has an interesting history. You may say, ‘Yes, but then it is old hat, I would like to hear something about a more modern science’. More recent perhaps, but not more modern. Modern science is exactly in the same tradition as the discoveries of the Law of Gravitation. It is only more recent discoveries that we would be talking about. I do not feel at all bad about telling you about the Law of Gravitation because in describing its history and methods, the character of its discovery, its quality, I am being completely modern.