PHI 538, Metaphysics of Physics
Meeting time: Wed, 6:00-8:50pm
Description
In the first half of the semester, we will discuss philosophical
problems of classical mechanics and classical field theories: the
persistence of matter, modality, the representation of mechanical
problems, time reversal, determinism, and the nature of instantaneous
velocity. In the second half of the semester, we will discuss some
selected philosophical problems about: (i) space and time, especially
in the light of relativity theory; (ii) quantum theory; (iii) thermal
physics (thermodynamics and statistical mechanics).
Required text: M. Salmon et al., Philosophy of Science.
Most papers below are linked from this page. Other papers are
available from Electronic Course Reserves (ECR), and can be downloaded
from:
Click on PHI 538, enter username: phi538, password _____
Schedule
Sep 15
The persistence of matter in metaphysics and classical physics
Additional reading:
- 'The rotating discs argument defeated' (philsci: 00001763)
- 'On the persistence of particles' (philsci: 00001586)
Sep 22
What is it to solve a problem in mechanics? The schemes of analytical
mechanics
- 'Between laws and models: philosophical morals of Lagrangian mechanics' (philsci: 00001937)
- 'On Hamilton-Jacobi theory as a classical root of quantum theory' (arXiv: quant-ph/0210140)
Possible other theme for this session or next: Modality in Classical
Mechanics The main JB paper is: 'Some aspects of modality in
analytical mechanics' (arXiv: physics/0210081)
Sep 29
Determinism
- J. Earman, 'Determinism in the physical sciences,' in M. Salmon et
al., Introduction to Philosophy of Science; 232-263. (stop at the end of Section 10, i.e. p. 250; i.e. ignore the
quantum sections) (Electronic Course Reserves)
- J. Earman, 'Determinism: What we have learned and what we still don't know'
(http://www.ucl.ac.uk/~uctytho/detearmanintro.html).
- Entry on Determinism and indeterminism in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
For those interested in a deterministic version of quantum theory (the
de Broglie-Bohm interpretation): Cushing, J. (1994) Quantum
mechanics: historical contingency and the Copenhagen hegemony,
Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
- J. Earman (1986) A primer on determinism, Dordrecht: Reidel. (ECR)
Oct 6
Philosophy of Geometry, especially in the light of relativity
- A. Eddington, Preface and Prologue from Space Time Gravitation (CUP,
1920); 1-16. Easy reading!
- J. Norton 'Philosophy of space and time' in M. Salmon et al., Introduction
to Philosophy of Science; 179-232. (ECR)
Possible other theme: Kant's Philosophy of Geometry
- J. Hopkins, 'Visual geometry', Philosophical Review 82, 1973, 3-34.
- M. Friedman, Kant and the exact sciences, Chap. 1, 'Geometry'.
Oct 13
Relationism about Space and Time
- J. Barbour, 'Relational concepts of about space and time' (jstor)
- J. Butterfield, 'The end of time?' (arXiv: gr-qc/0103055)
Oct 20
Interpretive problems of quantum mechanics: the measurement problem
and decoherence
Readings: TBA
(Fall Recess)
Nov 1 (Note: special date and time, Monday 4:30pm)
Guest lecture by Gerard Emch: Not what models are, but what they do.
Nov 3
Guest lecture by Gerard Emch: Spontaneous symmetry breaking in statistical mechanics
- G. Emch and C. Liu, 'Explaining quantum spontaneous symmetry
breaking' (Enormous - 14MB - PDF file)
- J. Earman, 'A rough guide to spontaneous symmetry breaking' (ECR)
- J. Earman, 'Curie's principle and spontaneous symmetry breaking' (PDF file)
Nov 10
Everettian interpretations of quantum theory: probability and identity over time
- Butterfield's handout (PDF)
- H. Greaves, 'Understanding Deutsch's probability in a deterministic multiverse' (philsci: 00001742)
Reading for those with time to spare:
Nov 17
Everettian interpretations of quantum theory
- D. Baker, 'Measurement outcomes and probability in Everettian quantum mechanics' (philsci archive)
Reading for those with time to spare:
- D. Wallace, 'Everettian rationality: defending Deutsch's approach to
probability in the Everett interpretation' (arXiv: quant-ph/0303050)
- D. Wallace, 'Quantum probability from subjective likelihood:
improving on Deutsch's proof of the probability rule' (arXiv:
quant-ph/0312157)
- D. Wallace, 'Quantum probability and decision theory, revisited'
(arXiv: quant-ph/0211104)
Nov 24
No meeting
Dec 1
Paul Mainwood: Renormalization group
Hilary Greaves: 'Justifying conditionalization: Conditionalization maximizes expected epistemic utility'
Dec 8
Interpretations of quantum mechanics
Joint seminar with Bas: from 4:30 to 8:00
4:30-6:00 Bas and Hans: proposals for interpretation
6:00 Guest speaker Brad Monton: wave function ontology
Readings (minimal reading — items 1 and 4)
- Albert, David 1996, 'Elementary quantum metaphysics', in J. Cushing, A. Fine, and S. Goldstein (eds), Bohmian Mechanics and Quantum Theory: An Appraisal, Kluwer, pp. 277-284.
- Monton, Brad 2002, 'Wave function ontology', Synthese 130: 265-277 (PDF file)
- Lewis, Peter 2004, 'Life in configuration space', Br J Philos Sci 55: 713-729 (philsci archive) (journal)
- Monton, Brad, 'Quantum mechanics and 3N-dimensional space' (PDF file)
Other readings will be supplied during the semester. Below are some
readings on the philosophy of classical mechanics that are broadly
related to the first three sessions.
- Introduction Entries on 'Mechanics, Aristotelian' and 'Mechanics, Classical' in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- M Lange, 'What is spatiotemporal locality?', Chapter 1 of Introduction to the Philosophy of Physics.
- R. Torretti, The Philosophy of Physics, pp 41-79: (=Chapter 2 till Section 2.5.2); also
for week 2. (ECR)
Method in Galileo and Newton
- E. McMullin, 'Galilean idealization', Studies in History and Philosophy of Science, 16, 1985, 247-273. (ECR)
- E. McMullin, 'The Impact of Newton's Principia on the philosophy of science', Philosophy of Science 68, 2001, 279-310. (ECR)
The Rise of Field Theory
- Entry on 'Field theory, classical' in the Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
- E. McMullin, 'The origins of the field concept in physics', Physics in Perspective 4, 2002, 13-39.
Could extended objects be made out of unextended parts?
- D. Zimmermann, 'Indivisible parts and extended objects: philosophical episodes in the prehistory of topology', The Monist 79, 148-180.
- D. Zimmermann, 'Could extended objects be made out of simple parts?', Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 56, 1-29.