James T. Cushing
Encyclopedia
James T. Cushing was a US-American theoretical physicist
and philosopher of science. He was professor of physics as well as professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame
.
He studied physics in several universities in the USA, obtaining his B.S. from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois in 1959, his M.S. from Northwestern University
in 1960 and his Ph.D.
, also in physics, from the University of Iowa
in 1963. He then performed research at the University of Iowa
, the Imperial College in London
and the Argonne National Laboratory
, after which he joined the University of Notre Dame, initially as assistant professor from 1966 to 1969, then advancing to associate professor and, from 1978 onwards, as professor of physics. From 1990 to 1993, he additionally was professor of philosophy at the same university.
Cushing's main areas of research were the history and philosophy of 20th century physics and the foundations of quantum theory
. He investigated in particular interpretations of quantum mechanics, including the historical reasons for the success of the Copenhagen interpretation
over hidden variable theories
or the De Broglie–Bohm theory (causal interpretation of quantum mechanics).
Since 2004, an annual prize is awarded in honor of James T. Cushing to younger scholars for significant work in the history and philosophical foundations of modern physics.
Books:
Theoretical physics
Theoretical physics is a branch of physics which employs mathematical models and abstractions of physics to rationalize, explain and predict natural phenomena...
and philosopher of science. He was professor of physics as well as professor of philosophy at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
.
He studied physics in several universities in the USA, obtaining his B.S. from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois in 1959, his M.S. from Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in 1960 and his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
, also in physics, from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in 1963. He then performed research at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, the Imperial College in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and the Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory
Argonne National Laboratory is the first science and engineering research national laboratory in the United States, receiving this designation on July 1, 1946. It is the largest national laboratory by size and scope in the Midwest...
, after which he joined the University of Notre Dame, initially as assistant professor from 1966 to 1969, then advancing to associate professor and, from 1978 onwards, as professor of physics. From 1990 to 1993, he additionally was professor of philosophy at the same university.
Cushing's main areas of research were the history and philosophy of 20th century physics and the foundations of quantum theory
Quantum theory
Quantum theory may mean:In science:*Quantum mechanics: a subset of quantum physics explaining the physical behaviours at atomic and sub-atomic levels*Old quantum theory under the Bohr model...
. He investigated in particular interpretations of quantum mechanics, including the historical reasons for the success of the Copenhagen interpretation
Copenhagen interpretation
The Copenhagen interpretation is one of the earliest and most commonly taught interpretations of quantum mechanics. It holds that quantum mechanics does not yield a description of an objective reality but deals only with probabilities of observing, or measuring, various aspects of energy quanta,...
over hidden variable theories
Hidden variable theory
Historically, in physics, hidden variable theories were espoused by some physicists who argued that quantum mechanics is incomplete. These theories argue against the orthodox interpretation of quantum mechanics, which is the Copenhagen Interpretation...
or the De Broglie–Bohm theory (causal interpretation of quantum mechanics).
Since 2004, an annual prize is awarded in honor of James T. Cushing to younger scholars for significant work in the history and philosophical foundations of modern physics.
Publications
James T. Cushing has authored more than 100 scientific articles.Books:
- James T. Cushing: Philosophical Concepts in Physics: the historical relation between philosophy and scientific theories, Cambridge University Press, 1998
- J.T. Cushing, A. Fine, S. Goldstein (eds.): Bohmian Mechanics and Quantum-Theory: An Appraisal, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht 1996 (Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 184)
- James T. Cushing: Quantum Mechanics: Historical Contingency and the Copenhagen Hegemony, The University of Chicago Press, 1994
- James T. Cushing: Theory Construction and Selection in Modern Physics: The S Matrix, Cambridge University Press, 1990
- James T. Cushing and Ernan McMullin (eds.): Philosophical Consequences of Quantum Theory, University of Notre Dame Press, 1989
- James T. Cushing, C. F. Delaney and Gary Gutting (eds.): Science and Reality: Recent Work in the Philosophy of Science, University of Notre Dame Press, 1984
- James T. Cushing: Applied Analytical Mathematics for Physical Scientists, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 651 pages (1975).
External links
- James T. Cushing, curriculum vitae, University of Notre Dame