The Character of Physical Law is a series
of seven lectures by physicist Richard Feynman
concerning the nature of the laws of physics.
Feynman delivered the lectures in 1964 at
Cornell University, as part of the Messenger
Lectures series.
The BBC recorded the lectures, and published
a book under the same title the following
year; Cornell published the BBC's recordings
online in September 2015.
== Topics ==
The lectures covered the following topics:
The law of gravitation, an example of physical
law
The relation of mathematics and physics
The great conservation principles
Symmetry in physical law
The distinction of past and future
Probability and uncertainty - the quantum
mechanical view of nature
Seeking new laws
== Reception ==
Critical reception has been positive.
The journal The Physics Teacher, in recommending
it to both scientists and non-scientists alike,
gave The Character of Physical Law a favorable
review, writing that although the book was
initially intended to supplement the recordings,
it was "complete in itself and will appeal
to a far wider audience".
== Selections ==
"In general we look for a new law by the following
process.
First we guess it.
...", – Feynman 1965, p. 156
== See also ==
QED: The Strange Theory of Light and Matter
The Feynman Lectures on Physics
