评彭加勒关于物理学危机的基本观点

An Appraisal of Henri Poincaré's Basic Viewpoint of the Crisis in Physics

十九世纪末二十世纪初,接踵而至的一系列新实验事实与经典物理学理论发生了不可调和的矛盾,从而动摇了整个物理学理论的基础,导致了物理学的危机。当时,老一辈的物理学家囿于机械论的自然观,看不清物理学发展的形势,只是企图在旧理论的框架内进行修补,找不到摆脱危机的出路。在当时著名的科学家当中,对物理学发展形势看得最为清楚的是法国数学家。

In 1905 Henri Poincaré explicitly declared the crisis in physics, which he thought was the harbinger of a revolution in that discipline of science. In order to break away from that crisis, he reasoned, it was necessary, on the premise of reaffirming classic theories, to referm physics on the basis of new experimental facts. Poincaré’s basic viewpoint of the crisis in physics is correct.On this assumption the paper proceeds to make the necessary clarification concert.lug the misunderstanding and misrepresentation of Poincaré’s views prevalent in the Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, Japan and China. It also holds that even in philosophy one should not adopt an attitude of total repudiation toward Poincaré.