Paul Dirac
Predicted antimatter and formulated Dirac equation
Most quoted
"The underlying physical laws necessary for the mathematical theory of a large part of physics and the whole of chemistry are thus completely known, and the difficulty is only that the exact application of these laws leads to equations much too complicated to be soluble. It is the purpose of theoretical physics to show that it is possible to derive, from these equations, the properties of the actual world."
— from Proceedings of the Royal Society, 1929
"The methods of progress in theoretical physics have undergone a vast change during the present century. The classical tradition has been to consider the world to be an association of observable objects (particles, fluids, fields, etc.) moving about according to definite laws of force, so that one could form a mental picture in space and time of the whole scheme."
— from Quantised Singularities in the Electromagnetic Field, 1931
"The most powerful method of advance that can be suggested at present is to employ all the resources of pure mathematics in attempts to perfect and generalise the mathematical formalism that forms the existing basis of theoretical physics, and after each success in this direction, to try to interpret the new mathematical features in terms of physical entities."
— from Quantised Singularities in the Electromagnetic Field, 1931
All quotes by Paul Dirac (692)
The role of the observer in quantum mechanics is a very controversial topic.
The concept of entanglement is one of the most bizarre features of quantum mechanics.
Quantum mechanics is a very successful theory, but it is not a complete theory.
The problem of quantum gravity is one of the biggest challenges in physics.
The search for a quantum theory of gravity is a very important endeavor.
String theory is a very interesting idea, but it is not yet a complete theory.
The idea of extra dimensions is a very speculative one.
The multiverse hypothesis is a very wild idea.
The anthropic principle is a very controversial principle.
The fine-tuning problem is a very puzzling problem.
The existence of dark matter and dark energy is a great mystery.
The future of cosmology is very exciting.
The big bang theory is the most successful theory of the origin of the universe.
The inflationary universe theory is a very elegant solution to some of the problems of the big bang theory.
The search for extraterrestrial life is a very important endeavor.
The possibility of life on other planets is a very exciting one.
The future of humanity depends on our ability to understand the universe.
The pursuit of knowledge is one of the noblest endeavors of humanity.
Science is a never-ending quest for truth.
The beauty of science lies in its ability to explain the world around us.
Contemporaries of Paul Dirac
Other Physicss born within 50 years of Paul Dirac (1902–1984).