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Full Idea
Energy is the substance from which all elementary particles, all atoms and therefore all things are made, and energy is that which moves.
Gist of Idea
Energy is that which moves, and is the substance from which everything is made
Source
Werner Heisenberg (Physics and Philosophy [1958], 04)
Book Ref
Heisenberg,Werner: 'Physics and Philosophy' [Penguin 1989], p.51
A Reaction
I'm not sure what energy is, but I like this because it says that nature is fundamentally active. Nothing makes sense without that basic assumption (on which Leibniz continually insists).
Related Ideas
Idea 15265 'Energy' is a quasi-substance invented as the bearer of change during interactions [Harré/Madden]
Idea 14937 That the universe must be 'made of' something is just obsolete physics [Ladyman/Ross]
| 20646 | Helmholtz used 'energy' to mathematically link heat, light, electricity and magnetism [Helmholtz, by Watson] |
| 20644 | Energy has progressed from a mere formula, to a principle pervading all nature [Kelvin] |
| 17540 | Energy is that which moves, and is the substance from which everything is made [Heisenberg] |
| 17541 | Energy is an unchanging substance, having many forms, and causing all change [Heisenberg] |
| 12674 | Energy is the key multi-valued property, vital to scientific realism [Ellis] |
| 15265 | 'Energy' is a quasi-substance invented as the bearer of change during interactions [Harré/Madden] |
| 15280 | 'Kinetic energy' is used to explain the effects of moving things when they are stopped [Harré/Madden] |
| 24162 | Planck introduced the idea that energy can be quantized [Baggott] |
| 21183 | Thermodynamics introduced work and entropy, to understand steam engine efficiency [Hesketh] |