Preface by the Editors
Preface 1985
On Weizsäcker¿s Philosophy of Physics (by H. Lyre)
Chapter 1: Introduction. 1.1. The Question. 1.2. Outline
Part I: The Unity of Physics
Chapter 2: The System of theories. 2.1. Preliminary. 2.2. Classical point mechanics. 2.3. Mathematical forms of the Laws of Nature. 2.4. Chemistry. 2.5. Thermodynamics. 2.6. Field theories. 2.7. Non-Euclidan geometry and semantical consistency. 2.8. The relativity problem. 2.9. Special theory of relativity. 2.10. General theory of relativity. 2.11. Quantum theory, historical. 2.12. Quantum theory, plan of reconstruction. Chapter 3: Probability and abstract quantum theory. 3.1. Probability and experience. 3.2. The classical concept of probability. 3.3. Empirical determination of probabilities. 3.4. Second quantization. 3.5. Methodical: reconstruction of abstract quantum theory. 3.6. Reconstruction via probabilities and the lattice of propositions. Chapter 4: Quantum theory and space-time. 4.1. Concrete quantum theory. 4.2. Reconstruction of quantum theory via variable alternatives. 4.3. Space and time. Chapter 5: Models of particles and interaction. 5.1. Open questions. 5.2. Representations in tensor space. 5.3. Quasi-particles in rigid coordinate spaces. 5.4. Model of quantum electrodynamics. 5.5. Elementary particles. 5.6. General theory of relativity. Chapter 6: Cosmology and particle physics (by Th. Görnitz). 6.1. Quantum theory of abstract binary alternatives and cosmology. 6.2. Ur-theoretical vacuum and particle states. 6.4. Outlook.
Part II: Time and Information
Chapter 7: Irreversibility and entropy. 7.1. Irreversibility as problem. 7.2. A model of irreversible processes. 7.3. Documents. 7.4. Cosmology and the theory of relativity. Chapter 8: Information and evolution. 8.1. The systematic place of the chapter. 8.2. What is information? 8.3. What is evolution? 8.4. Information and probability. 8.5. Evolution as growth of potential information. 8.6. Pragmaticinformation: novelty and confirmation. 8.7. Biological preliminaries to logic.
Part III: On the Interpretation of Physics
Chapter 9: The problem of the interpretation of quantum theory. 9.1. About the history of the interpretation. 9.2. The semantical consistency of quantum theory. 9.3. Paradoxa and alternatives. Chapter 10: The stream of information. 10.1. The quest for substance. 10.2. The stream of information in quantum theory. 10.3. Mind and form. Chapter 11: Beyond quantum theory. 11.1. Crossing the frontier. 11.2. Facticity of the future. 11.3. Possibility of the past. 11.4. Comprehensive present. 11.5. Beyond physics. Chapter 12: In the language of philosophers. 12.1. Exposition. 12.2. Philosophy of science. 12.3. Physics. 12.4. Metaphysics.
References
Index

Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker¿s "Aufbau der Physik", first published in 1985, was intended as an overview of his lifelong concern: an understanding of the unity of physics. That is, the idea of a quantum theory of binary alternatives (the so-called ur-theory), a unified quantum theoretical framework in which spinorial symmetry groups are considered to give rise to the structure of space and time.
The book saw numerous reprints, but it was published in German only.
The present edition, in English, provides a newly arranged and revised version, in which some original chapters and sections have been deleted, and a new chapter about further insights and results of ur-theoretic research of the late 1980¿s and 1990¿s, mainly by the work of Thomas Görnitz, has been included, as well as a general introduction to Weizsäcker¿s Philosophy of Physics.
Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker also enjoys high esteem by a much broader audience for his socio-cultural, political and religious thoughts and writings. In him the intercultural and interdisciplinary dialogue has found one of its most important proponents: a great thinker who combines the perspectives of science, philosophy, religion and politics with a view towards the challenges as well as the responsibilities of our time.
Original title: Aufbau der Physik - Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker - © Carl Hanser Verlag München Wien 1985