Author: W. H. Watson
Introduction by: Ernest Nagel
Publisher: Harper Torchbooks, The Science Library (TB 507)
Publication Date: First Harper Torchbook edition, 1959 (original edition, 1938)
Format: Softcover, 190+ pages
Condition: Good. Binding solid, pages clean and unmarked with some age toning. Cover shows general shelfwear, light rubbing, and an old price sticker on the front.
 
Description:
W. H. Watson’s On Understanding Physics (1938) remains a thoughtful and influential philosophical exploration of the foundations of physics. This Harper Torchbook edition (1959) makes the text widely accessible to students, teachers, and collectors of mid-century scientific thought.
The book examines the deeper meaning behind the principles of physics, offering clarifying discussions of theoretical constructs often misunderstood or misapplied. Watson challenges readers to look beyond formulas and experiments to the conceptual framework that underpins the discipline.
With an introduction by Ernest Nagel—one of the 20th century’s most prominent philosophers of science—this volume stands at the intersection of physics, philosophy, and intellectual history. It remains a valuable reference for anyone interested in the philosophy of science, scientific method, or the intellectual debates of the early 20th century.