2014/06/26 by Giora Hon, Bernard R. Goldstein, Hon, Giora +1
Arts and Humanities · Physics and Astronomy · #FOS: Physical sciences #History and Philosophy of Physics (physics.hist-ph) #Philosophy, Science, and History #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #physics.hist-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1406.6993
11 pages
arxiv created 2014/06/26 · openalex publication_date 2014/06/26 · arxiv updated 2014/06/27 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
The quantum theory of Bohr has roots in the theories of Rutherford and J. J. Thomson on the one hand, and that of Nicholson on the other. We note that Bohr neither presented the theories of Rutherford and Thomson faithfully, nor did he refer to the theory of Nicholson in its own terms. The contrasting attitudes towards these antecedent theories is telling and reveals the philosophical disposition of Bohr. We argue that Bohr intentionally avoided the concept of model as inappropriate for describing his proposed theory. Bohr had no problem in referring to the works of others as 'models', thus separating his theory from previous theories. He was interested in uncovering 'a little piece of reality'.