The Nature of the Physical World: The Theory of Relativity, Quantum Theory, and Humanity's Great Questions

This book, "The Nature of the Physical World," is unique because its author is unique, and its concept emerged under unique circumstances. Eddington, the renowned astronomer, mathematician, and physicist, was the first to prove Einstein's general theory of relativity and the first to write about it in English. Einstein himself praised him, stating that what Eddington wrote was the most accurate account of relativity in any language. He contributed to the development of non-Euclidean geometry, which greatly helped in providing a suitable geometry for understanding the world in light of the theory of relativity itself. His contributions did not stop there; he conducted numerous studies on the origin, evolution, movement, and composition of stars and was one of the early enthusiasts of quantum theory.

On the other hand, Eddington was a deeply religious man, a member of a Protestant religious group, and an eloquent speaker capable of conveying the most complex ideas. It seems that the book at hand is the product of intense thoughts brewing in his mind. The first eleven chapters are purely scientific, attempting to explain the most important theories of modern science and the implications of relativity and quantum theory. The last four chapters are philosophical, metaphysical, and at times mystical, attempting to answer the great questions in light of the standards and directions of these modern theories.

As mentioned, the idea for this book emerged in a different context; it was initially a series of lectures delivered as part of the Gifford Lectures, an annual series considered one of the most important and prestigious events hosted by the Scottish academic community. These lectures are delivered at several Scottish universities, with their primary theme being natural theology, which concerns establishing the existence of God based on logical reasoning and ordinary experience of nature.

In this book, we find a profound devotion to science and a keen insight into its philosophy. We also find a perplexed individual who wants to use all his knowledge to answer the great questions that have long troubled him.

• Author: Sir Arthur Stanley Eddington
• Translator: Ahmed Samir Saad
• Publisher: Afaq Publishing and Distribution - Cairo
• Year of Publication: 2019
• Number of Pages: 380
• Binding: Paperback
• ISBN: 9789777652094