The Methodological Role of the Concept :: Science Physics Research Papers

The Methodological Role of the Concept "Physical Vacuum" Science is entering the post-non-classical period characterized by evolutionary-synergistic types of rationality, the central moment of which is research of complex nonlinear systems. During the last few decades, physics has made a revolutionary turn toward new representations of the nature of elementary particles and has revealed unexpected features of the physical vacuum, with the evolving Universe having become the basic subject of study in physics. It is important to distinguish two basic aspects of the development of modern physics. First is that physics has closely approached the construction of unified theory. Second is that two branches of knowledge —physics of elementary particles and cosmology — have completely merged. This is most vividly displayed through the modern inflationary models of the evolution of the Universe, within the framework of which it is possible to solve most cosmological problems. The inflationary scenarios give a new look to the place of the physical vacuum in the structure of physics theory. This requires the methodological analysis of the problem of the physical vacuum and a definition of its status in the structure of nature science. I will therefore: 1) investigate the sociocultural origin of this fundamental concept by looking for the sources of the entry of the concept "vacuum" in the sciences; 2) study its functioning in the logic of scientific knowledge at the various stages of development in physics; and 3) develop more adequate definitions of this concept. The science is entering post non-classical period. This period is characterized with establishing evolutionary-synergetic type of rational. The central moment of which is research of complex nonlinear systems. The finest aspect of the appropriate consideration has the Universe as a self-organizing object. Cosmological aspect of formation of the new scientific research program, new paradigm in science, ontological formation of them in an adequate post-non-classical scientific picture of the world has the paramount meaning. It can be said that during the last two-three decades the physics has made a revolutionary turn on the way to the new representations of the nature of the elementary particles, and has revealed unexpected features of the physical vacuum. As a result that has determined evolving Universe as the basic subject of studying in physics. It is important to distinguish two basic aspects of development of modern physics. The first of them is, that the physics has closely app roached to the program of construction of the one theory of the field.