I believe there is no philosophical high-road in science, with epistemological signposts. No, we are in a jungle and find our way by trial and error, building our road behind us as we proceed.
Max BornRead
If alpha [the fine-structure constant] were bigger than it really is, we should not be able to distinguish matter from ether [the vacuum, nothingness], and our task to disentangle the natural laws would be hopelessly difficult. The fact however that alpha has just its value 1/137 is certainly no chance but itself a law of nature. It is clear that the explanation of this number must be the central problem of natural philosophy.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The value of the fine-structure constant is crucial for understanding the physical world, indicating that its specific value is not a coincidence but a fundamental law.
Max Born emphasizes the importance of the fine-structure constant in physics, suggesting that if it were different, distinguishing between matter and the vacuum would be nearly impossible. He postulates that the specific value of 1/137 is not arbitrary, but rather a significant law of nature, indicating that uncovering the reasoning behind this number is central to the study of natural philosophy and our comprehension of the universe.
Themes
Fine-Structure ConstantNaturePhilosophyNatural LawsScience
In practice
Example use cases
In a lecture discussing the foundations of physics, you might reference Born's quote to illustrate the significance of fundamental constants.
More from Max Born
All quotes →I am now convinced that theoretical physics is actually philosophy.
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We have sought for firm ground and found none. _x000D_ The deeper we penetrate, the more restless becomes the universe; all is rushing about and vibrating in a wild dance.
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There are two objectionable types of believers: those who believe the incredible and those who believe that 'belief' must be discarded and replaced by 'the scientific method.
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Science is not formal logic-it needs the free play of the mind in as great a degree as any other creative art. It is true that this is a gift which can hardly be taught, but its growth can be encouraged in those who already posses it.
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His [Erwin Schrödinger's] private life seemed strange to bourgeois people like ourselves. But all this does not matter. He was a most lovable person, independent, amusing, temperamental, kind and generous, and he had a most perfect and efficient brain.
Max BornRead
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