David Peat

Joseph Henry Press • 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W. • Washington, D.C. 20418The Joseph Henry Press, an imprint of the National Academy Press, was createdwith the goal of making books on science, technology, and health more widelyavailable to professionals and the public. Joseph Henry was one of the foundersof the National Academy of Sciences and a leader in early American science.Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in thisvolume are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of theNational Academy of Sciences or its affiliated institutions.Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication DataPeat, F. David, 1938-From certainty to uncertainty : the story of science and ideas in thetwentieth century / F. David Peat.p. cm.Includes index.ISBN 0-309-07641-2 (hard)1. Physics—Philosophy. 2. Certainty. 3. Chaotic behavior insystems. 4. Physics—History—20th century. I. Title: Story of scienceand ideas in the twentieth century. II. Title.QC6 .P33 2002530′.09′04—dc212002001482Cover art: Diego Rodriguez Velazquez, Las Meninas (detail), copyright ErichLessing/Art Resource, NY (left side); Michele de la Menardiere, Homage to LasMeninas (right side).Copyright 2002 by F. David Peat. All rights reserved.Printed in the United States of America.