Högre seminarium i vetenskapsfilosofi: John Dougherty (München)
Seminarium
Datum: torsdag 24 oktober 2024
Tid: 13.15 – 15.00
Plats: D700
Instrumentalism and gauge theories
Abstract
On the usual philosophical story, gauge theories are puzzling because they seem to have "surplus structure": theoretical content that does not directly correspond to features of the world.
Prima facie, this is only a puzzle for a scientific realist: the instrumentalist is indifferent to this sort of correspondence. Nevertheless, I argue, puzzles about gauge theories indeed arise for some contemporary versions of instrumentalism. In particular, there is a problem concerning the interpretation of the physicist's distinction between "gauge" and "physical" symmetries.
I offer a new interpretation of this distinction that has payoffs for current debates in philosophy of physics.
Senast uppdaterad: 16 oktober 2024
Sidansvarig: Department of Philosophy