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Single Idea 17540

[from 'Physics and Philosophy' by Werner Heisenberg, in 27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / a. Energy ]

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 Reference

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]