In science, Brian Pippard (1920-2008) was an experimental physicist, noted for his work in condensed matter physics.
Classical thermodynamics
Pippard, in his Elements of Classical Thermodynamics for Students of Physics, defines classical thermodynamics as “the method of approach that takes no account of the atomic constitution of matter [and] makes no attempt to provide a mechanistic explanation of why a given substance has the properties observed experimentally.” [1]
Quotes
The following are noted quotes:
“What is surely impossible is that a theoretical physicist, given unlimited computing power, should deduce from the laws of physics that a certain complex structure is aware of its own existence.”
— Brian Pippard (1988), “The Invincible Ignorance of Science” [2]
References
1. Pippard, A. Brian. (1957). Elements of Classical Thermodynamics for Students of Physics (pg. 1). Cambridge University Press.
2. (a) Pippard, Brian. (1988). “The Invincible Ignorance of Science” (abs) (pdf), Eddington Memorial Lecture, Cambridge, Jan 28; in: Contemporary Physics, 29:393.
(b) Weinberg, Steven. (1992). Dreams of a Final Theory: the Scientist’s Search for the Ultimate Laws of Nature. Random House.
External links
● Brian Pippard – Wikipedia.
