According to Wolfgang Smith's "Physics: A Science in Quest of an Ontology," a true understanding of physics necessitates an ontological comprehension of the universe. This cannot be attained solely through the causality that physics is founded upon, but rather through vertical causation. Smith asserts that those who claim to have no metaphysics possess the most abhorrent kind. He distinguishes between two entities - the physical and the corporeal - which are recognized nearly universally.

"Physics: A Science in Quest of An Ontology" signifies the culmination of Smith's lifelong dedication to addressing the apparent disconnection between different areas of modern physics. By expanding on his prior concepts of the existence of two levels of being and vertical causality, Smith introduces an innovative idea of irreducible wholeness. This addition creates a compelling argument for a unified ontology that imbues science with purpose and provides a fresh outlook on the essence of reality.

Smith thoroughly examines the distinction between classical physics and quantum theory in his work. He emphasizes that the latter places significant importance on the notion of an irreducible wholeness, which is fundamentally ontological. In order to contextualize this perspective, Smith traces the evolution of physics from Democritus' notion that reality consists only of atoms and the void to René Descartes' development of the concepts of res extensae and res cogitantes.

Smith refutes the notion that visual perception is divided into two distinct categories, as it lacks any scientific evidence to support it, despite physics having clear principles to adhere to. He asserts that the Democritean atomism theory is fundamentally flawed from the outset if we consider color as a primary attribute. Smith distinguishes between the entities that physics handles and those present in our daily lives, which undermines the foundation of Democritean's theory.

Smith insists that physical science cannot dismiss everything beyond its scope as mere pre-scientific superstition. He demands a realistic approach to visual perception that recognizes qualities as integral components of the external world, based on empirical evidence. This proposition challenges the very foundations of Democritean atomism. Smith firmly argues that a purely physics-based worldview is unable to encompass the qualitative nature of the universe. This is not due to the non-existence of these qualities, but rather because science is simply incapable of comprehending them.

"Physics: A Science in Quest of an Ontology" challenges the bifurcationist understanding of visual perception and proposes an ontological dichotomy between physics and the entities comprising the ordinary perceptible world. Smith’s work suggests that physical science can no longer be used to reduce everything that transcends its purview to the status of a pre-scientific superstition, and that the qualitative dimension of the cosmos should be recognized as a bona fide component of the external world. This book is a valuable contribution to the physics field and is highly recommended for anyone interested in the philosophical underpinnings of science.

I'm not a physicist, either professional or academic, but I'm curious about what physics can tell us. Unfortunately, I didn't finish this book because most of the contents were way over my head. It felt more like a physics text or reference book, less like something written for the layperson.