Symmetry in Science: An Introduction to the
General Theory.
By Joe Rosen
(E-mail [email protected],
University of Central Arkansas)
Springer Verlag: New York. 1996.234pp. $29.95. ISBN 0-387-94836-8.
Shu-Kun Lin
Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI), Saengergasse
25, CH-4054 Basel (New Address: MDPI, Matthaeusstrasse 11, CH-4057
Basel), Switzerland
Tel.: +41 79 322 3379; Fax: +41 61 302 8918,
E-mail: [email protected],
URL: http://www.mdpi.org/lin/
Received: 7 September 1999 / Published: 30 September 1999
This is the most fascinating book on symmetry I have
ever read. Everyone who applies the symmetry concept should read it.
There
are many books on symmetry. Many of them simply treat symmetry as a
mathematical
attribute. Rosen is the first one who firmly treats symmetry as a
property
of a system (very similar to a thermodynamic property). Many authors
apply
symmetry to structures. The author mainly discusses the symmetry
evolution
of processes here.
Rosen substantially develops the Curie symmetry principle:
the effect is at least as symmetric as the cause.
He puts the principle on a conceptual/theoretical foundation
(bases it on the existence of causal relations in science)
and applies it to processes. P. Curie's original work was published
100 years ago and not in English [1]. Rosen's
symmetry
principle states that the symmetry group of the cause is a subgroup
of the symmetry group of the effect. He puts it into several forms
at the end of the book on page 191. The one most closely related to the
second law of thermodynamics regarding entropy is that "for a
quasi-isolated
physical system the degree of symmetry cannot decrease as the system
evolves,
but either remains constant or increases".
This book's first edition published in 1983 is also good [2].
I did not read it [2] before because I thought it
was one of
many symmetry books on structures. There are a number of changes in the
new edition.
I recommend to my colleagues to read it. You will enjoy it!
References and Notes