Hello,

 

Can anyone help me find out who has written on the questions of anthropomorphism in physics? I have found that even such respected physicists as R. Feynman, in his QED (perhaps his most accessible work) speaks of photons "knowing" and "deciding" whether to reflect from a glass surface. Typically, chemistry lessons concerning how electrons fill shells use language such as, "the atom 'wants' to have a full outer shell..." etc. I am trying to teach my youngster something about these matters and am struggling with the language as I don't want to ascribe an agency to atomic and sub-atomic particles that they simply don't have. This has stimulated my own interest in the subject but the literature is vast and I have no idea where to look for adult discussions on this.

So long as you remember that the antropomorphizing is a metaphor, you will be fine.