Metaphysical Elements in Physics

Our time appears to be distinguished by its taboos, among which there is to be found the broad convention that the word metaphysics 1 must never be used in polite scientific society. When I infringe upon this custom, and the title of this paper leaves me without defense to this accusation, the reaction is likely to take one of two standard forms: the so-called “working” physicist will say (after muttering one of his milder oaths), “Why bother about metaphysics when there is enough physics to occupy every one’s attention, and even more? A person who talks metaphysics nowadays gives evidence of an outmoded taste and of insufficient knowledge.” Well-meaning friends and kinder souls will tolerate the infraction of etiquette, expecting that I shall redeem myself by digging up some unfortunate bits of metaphysics which have still been hidden in modern physics, by exhibiting them with scorn and disapproval and finally disposing of them in a fitting manner.