Bohr's Complementarity and Kant's Epistemology
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Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry
Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry Jaap van Brakel Abstract: In this paper I assess the relation between philosophy of chemistry and (general) philosophy of science, focusing on those themes in the philoso- phy of chemistry that may bring about major revisions or extensions of cur- rent philosophy of science. Three themes can claim to make a unique contri- bution to philosophy of science: first, the variety of materials in the (natural and artificial) world; second, extending the world by making new stuff; and, third, specific features of the relations between chemistry and physics. Keywords : philosophy of science, philosophy of chemistry, interdiscourse relations, making stuff, variety of substances . 1. Introduction Chemistry is unique and distinguishes itself from all other sciences, with respect to three broad issues: • A (variety of) stuff perspective, requiring conceptual analysis of the notion of stuff or material (Sections 4 and 5). • A making stuff perspective: the transformation of stuff by chemical reaction or phase transition (Section 6). • The pivotal role of the relations between chemistry and physics in connection with the question how everything fits together (Section 7). All themes in the philosophy of chemistry can be classified in one of these three clusters or make contributions to general philosophy of science that, as yet , are not particularly different from similar contributions from other sci- ences (Section 3). I do not exclude the possibility of there being more than three clusters of philosophical issues unique to philosophy of chemistry, but I am not aware of any as yet. Moreover, highlighting the issues discussed in Sections 5-7 does not mean that issues reviewed in Section 3 are less im- portant in revising the philosophy of science. -
151545957.Pdf
Universit´ede Montr´eal Towards a Philosophical Reconstruction of the Dialogue between Modern Physics and Advaita Ved¯anta: An Inquiry into the Concepts of ¯ak¯a´sa, Vacuum and Reality par Jonathan Duquette Facult´ede th´eologie et de sciences des religions Th`ese pr´esent´ee `ala Facult´edes ´etudes sup´erieures en vue de l’obtention du grade de Philosophiae Doctor (Ph.D.) en sciences des religions Septembre 2010 c Jonathan Duquette, 2010 Universit´ede Montr´eal Facult´edes ´etudes sup´erieures et postdoctorales Cette th`ese intitul´ee: Towards A Philosophical Reconstruction of the Dialogue between Modern Physics and Advaita Ved¯anta: An Inquiry into the Concepts of ¯ak¯a´sa, Vacuum and Reality pr´esent´ee par: Jonathan Duquette a ´et´e´evalu´ee par un jury compos´edes personnes suivantes: Patrice Brodeur, pr´esident-rapporteur Trichur S. Rukmani, directrice de recherche Normand Mousseau, codirecteur de recherche Solange Lefebvre, membre du jury Varadaraja Raman, examinateur externe Karine Bates, repr´esentante du doyen de la FESP ii Abstract Toward the end of the 19th century, the Hindu monk and reformer Swami Vivekananda claimed that modern science was inevitably converging towards Advaita Ved¯anta, an important philosophico-religious system in Hinduism. In the decades that followed, in the midst of the revolution occasioned by the emergence of Einstein’s relativity and quantum physics, a growing number of authors claimed to discover striking “par- allels” between Advaita Ved¯anta and modern physics. Such claims of convergence have continued to the present day, especially in relation to quantum physics. In this dissertation, an attempt is made to critically examine such claims by engaging a de- tailed comparative analysis of two concepts: ¯ak¯a´sa in Advaita Ved¯anta and vacuum in quantum physics. -
Physics Needs Philosophy. Philosophy Needs Physics
Found Phys (2018) 48:481–491 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-018-0167-y Physics Needs Philosophy. Philosophy Needs Physics Carlo Rovelli1 Received: 4 April 2018 / Accepted: 5 April 2018 / Published online: 3 May 2018 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract Contrary to claims about the irrelevance of philosophy for science, I argue that philosophy has had, and still has, far more influence on physics than is commonly assumed. I maintain that the current anti-philosophical ideology has had damaging effects on the fertility of science. I also suggest that recent important empirical results, such as the detection of the Higgs particle and gravitational waves, and the failure to detect supersymmetry where many expected to find it, question the validity of certain philosophical assumptions common among theoretical physicists, inviting us to engage in a clearer philosophical reflection on scientific method. Keywords Philosophy of physics · Aristotle · Popper · Kuhn 1. Against Philosophy is the title of a chapter of a book by one of the great physicists of the last generation: Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize winner and one of the architects of the Standard Model of elementary particle physics [1]. Weinberg argues eloquently that philosophy is more damaging than helpful for physics—although it might pro- vide some good ideas at times, it is often a straightjacket that physicists have to free themselves from. More radically, Stephen Hawking famously wrote that “philosophy is dead” because the big questions that used to be discussed by philosophers are now in the hands of physicists [2]. Similar views are widespread among scientists, and scientists do not keep them to themselves. -
Grete Hermann on Von Neumann's No-Hidden-Variables Proof
Challenging the gospel: Grete Hermann on von Neumann’s no-hidden-variables proof M.P Seevinck ∞ ∞ Radboud University University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands May 2012 1 Preliminary ∞ ∞ In 1932 John von Neumann had published in his celebrated book on the Mathematische Grundlagen der Quantenmechanik, a proof of the impossibility of theories which, by using the so- called hidden variables, attempt to give a deterministic explana- tion of quantum mechanical behaviors. ◮ Von Neumann’s proof was sort of holy: ‘The truth, however, happens to be that for decades nobody spoke up against von Neumann’s arguments, and that his con- clusions were quoted by some as the gospel.’ (F. J. Belinfante, 1973) 2 ◮ In 1935 Grete Hermann challenged this gospel by criticizing the von Neumann proof on a fundamental point. This was however not widely known and her criticism had no impact whatsoever. ◮ 30 years later John Bell gave a similar critique, that did have great foundational impact. 3 Outline ∞ ∞ 1. Von Neumann’s 1932 no hidden variable proof 2. The reception of this proof + John Bell’s 1966 criticism 3. Grete Hermann’s critique (1935) on von Neu- mann’s argument 4. Comparison to Bell’s criticism 5. The reception of Hermann’s criticism 4 Von Neumann’s 1932 no hidden variable argument ∞ ∞ Von Neumann: What reasons can be given for the dispersion found in some quantum ensembles? (Case I): The individual systems differ in additional parameters, which are not known to us, whose values de- termine precise outcomes of measurements. = deterministic hidden variables ⇒ (Case II): ‘All individual systems are in the same state, but the laws of nature are not causal’. -
The Role of Philosophy in a Naturalized World
EuJAP | Vol. 8 | No. 1 | 2012 ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC PAPER UDK: 1 Dummett, M. 1:53 530.1:140.8 113/119 THE ROLE OF PHILOSOPHY IN A NATURALIZED WORLD JAN FAYE University of Copenhagen ABSTRACT 1. Introduction This paper discusses the late Michael Dummett’s Why are humanists and natural scientists characterization of the estrangement between unable to understand one another? Th is physics and philosophy. It argues against those physicists who hold that modern physics, seems to be one of the two main questions rather than philosophy, can answer traditional that concern Sir Michael in his thought- metaphysical questions such as why there is provoking essay “Th e Place of Philosophy something rather than nothing. The claim is that in the European Culture.” He does not physics cannot solve metaphysical problems since metaphysical issues are in principle himself supply us with any defi nite answer, empirically underdetermined. The paper closes but suggests that philosophers in general with a critical discussion of the assumption of do not know much about the natural some cosmologists that the Universe was created sciences, and therefore do not dare to speak out of nothing: In contrast to this misleading up against the natural scientists (and those assumption, it is proposed that the Universe has a necessary existence and that the present epoch who do are not interested in the same kind after the Big Bang is a contingent realization of of problems as the scientists.) Moreover, the Universe. because of the great success of the natural sciences scientists are often arrogant by Keywords: : Dummett, physics, philosophy, meta- assuming that the only knowledge we physics, underdetermination, cosmology can have is the knowledge they are able to provide. -
Neuer Nachrichtenbrief Der Gesellschaft Für Exilforschung E. V
Neuer Nachrichtenbrief der Gesellschaft für Exilforschung e. V. Nr. 53 ISSN 0946-1957 Juli 2019 Inhalt In eigener Sache In eigener Sache 1 Bericht Jahrestagung 2019 1 Später als gewohnt erscheint dieses Jahr der Doktoranden-Workshop 2019 6 Sommer-Nachrichtenbrief. Grund ist die Protokoll Mitgliederversammlung 8 diesjährige Jahrestagung, die im Juni AG Frauen im Exil 14 stattfand. Der Tagungsbericht und das Ehrenmitgliedschaft Judith Kerr 15 Protokoll der Mitgliederversammlung Laudatio 17 sollten aber in dieser Ausgabe erscheinen. Erinnerungen an Kurt Harald Der Tagungsbericht ist wiederum ein Isenstein 20 Gemeinschaftsprojekt, an dem sich diesmal Untersuchung Castrum Peregrini 21 nicht nur „altgediente“ GfE-Mitglieder Projekt „Gerettet“ 22 beteiligten, sondern dankenswerterweise CfP AG Frauen im Exil 24 auch zwei Doktorandinnen der Viadrina. CfP Society for Exile Studies 25 Ich hoffe, für alle, die nicht bei der Tagung Suchanzeigen 27 sein konnten, bieten Bericht und Protokoll Leserbriefe 27 genügend Informationen. Impressum 27 Katja B. Zaich Aus der Gesellschaft für Exilforschung Exil(e) und Widerstand Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Exilforschung in Frankfurt an der Oder vom 20.-22. Juni 2019 Die Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft fand in diesem Jahr an einem sehr würdigen und dem Geiste der Veranstaltung kongenialen Ort statt, waren doch die Erbauer des Logenhauses in Frankfurt an der Oder die Mitglieder der 1776 gegründeten Freimaurerloge „Zum aufrichtigen Herzen“, die 1935 unter dem Zwang der Nazi-Diktatur ihre Tätigkeit einstellen musste und diese erst 1992 wieder aufnehmen konnte. Im Festsaal des Logenhauses versammelten sich am Donnerstagnachmittag Exilforscher/innen, Studierende und Gäste aus verschiedenen Ländern, darunter etwa 30 Mitglieder der Gesellschaft. Auf die Frage „Was ist die Freimaurerei?“ findet sich auf der Homepage der heute wieder dort arbeitenden Loge eine alte englische Definition, in der es unter anderem heißt: „gegen das Unrecht ist sie Widerstand“. -
Complementary & the Copenhagen Interpretation
Complementarity and the Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics Click here to go to the UPSCALE home page. Click here to go to the Physics Virtual Bookshelf home page. Introduction Neils Bohr (1885 - 1962) was one of the giants in the development of Quantum Mechanics. He is best known for: 1. The development of the Bohr Model of the Atom in 1913. A small document on this topic is available here. 2. The principle of Complementarity, the "heart" of Bohr's search for the significance of the quantum idea. This principle led him to: 3. The Copenhagen Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics. In this document we discuss Complementarity and then the Copenhagen Interpretation. But first we shall briefly discuss the general issue of interpretations of Quantum Mechanics, and briefly describe two interpretations. The discussion assumes some knowledge of the Feynman Double Slit, such as is discussed here; it also assumes some knowledge of Schrödinger's Cat, such as is discussed here. Finally, further discussion of interpretations of Quantum Mechanics can be meaningfully given with some knowledge of Bell's Theorem; a document on that topic is here. The level of discussion in what follows is based on an upper-year liberal arts course in modern physics without mathematics given at the University of Toronto. In that context, the discussion of Bell's Theorem mentioned in the previous paragraph is deferred until later. A recommended reference on the material discussed below is: F. David Peat, Einstein's Moon (Contemporary Books, 1990), ISBN 0-8092-4512-4 (cloth), 0-8092-3965-5 (paper). Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics Although the basic mathematical formalism of Quantum Mechanics was developed independently by Heisenberg and Schrödinger in 1926, a full and accepted interpretation of what that mathematics means still eludes us. -
In Der Spannung Pädagogik Und Politik Zum 100. Geburtstag
In der Spannung zwischen Naturwissenschaft, Pädagogik und Politik Zum 100. Geburtstag von Grete Henry-Hermann Herausgegeben von Susanne Miller und Helmut Müller ( im Auftrag der Philosophisch-Politischen Akademie e.V, Bonn r" In der Spannung zwischen Naturwissenschaft, Pädagogik und Politik ^ I m s» ^91 ^ ^ vy ^ S-. &ä m-: 9 M ^ s ?.-%'? m^.: fl^S ^ ft'f/ • A • . w^ ".;' fe ,, y. ->;t". Kv. jlti s. fö/ •.«•. frX'%i M^ S'f^f^ff .im s .1 Zum 100. Geburtstag von Crete Henry-Hermann ^^ 1S ^•^^•m ".* Zum 100. Geburtstag von Crete Hem'y-Hermann l Inhaltsverzeichnis Vonvort Dieter Krohn: Begrüßung Henning Scherf: Geleitwort des Präsidenten des Senats und Bürgermeisters der Freien Hansestadt Bremen Susanne Miller: Erinnerungen an Grete Henry-Hermann Lena Soler - Grete Henry-Hermanns Alexander Schnell: Beitrag zur Philosophie der Physik Ute Hönnecke: Der heilige Improvisatius — Grete Henry-Hermann als Leiterin der Lehrerausbildung in der Nachh-iegszeit Detlef Albers: Die Grundwerte im Mittelpunkt. Zur Aktualität des politischen Denkens von Grete Henry-Hermann Grete Henry-Hermann: Leonard Nelson und die Grundlagen des freiheitlichen Sozialismus Copyright: Philosophisch-Politische Akademie e. V, Bonn, 2001 Nachdruck nur mit Genehmigimg gestattet. Zum 100. Geburtstag von Crete Henry-Hermann Zum 100. Geburtstag von Crete Henry-Hermann Lena Soler und Alexander Schnell Crete Henry-Hermanns Beiträge zur Philosophie der Physik Wir werden uns deshalb im wesentlichen auf die Schrift von 1935 beschränken. Dieser Text wurde auf Betreiben von Lena Soler hin von Alexander Schnell übersetzt. Wir möchten Ihnen heute die grundlegenden Beiträge Grete Henry-Hermanns Dieses Buch ist 1996, mit einem einleitenden Vorwort und einem kritischen Nachwort zur Philosophie der Physik vorstellen. -
John Von Neumann's “Impossibility Proof” in a Historical Perspective’, Physis 32 (1995), Pp
CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk Provided by SAS-SPACE Published: Louis Caruana, ‘John von Neumann's “Impossibility Proof” in a Historical Perspective’, Physis 32 (1995), pp. 109-124. JOHN VON NEUMANN'S ‘IMPOSSIBILITY PROOF’ IN A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE ABSTRACT John von Neumann's proof that quantum mechanics is logically incompatible with hidden varibales has been the object of extensive study both by physicists and by historians. The latter have concentrated mainly on the way the proof was interpreted, accepted and rejected between 1932, when it was published, and 1966, when J.S. Bell published the first explicit identification of the mistake it involved. What is proposed in this paper is an investigation into the origins of the proof rather than the aftermath. In the first section, a brief overview of the his personal life and his proof is given to set the scene. There follows a discussion on the merits of using here the historical method employed elsewhere by Andrew Warwick. It will be argued that a study of the origins of von Neumann's proof shows how there is an interaction between the following factors: the broad issues within a specific culture, the learning process of the theoretical physicist concerned, and the conceptual techniques available. In our case, the ‘conceptual technology’ employed by von Neumann is identified as the method of axiomatisation. 1. INTRODUCTION A full biography of John von Neumann is not yet available. Moreover, it seems that there is a lack of extended historical work on the origin of his contributions to quantum mechanics. -
PHIL 146: Philosophy of Physics Topic: Arrows of Time Fall 2019
PHIL 146: Philosophy of Physics Topic: Arrows of Time Fall 2019. UCSD Syllabus Instructor: Eddy Keming Chen Office: H&SS Room 8004 Email: [email protected] Website: www.eddykemingchen.net Version of October 1, 2019 1 Course Description This course will provide an introduction to topics in the philosophy of physics. Our focus will be on the problems of the arrows of time. 2 Course Information • Meeting time: Tuesday & Thursday 9:30 - 10:50 am. First class on Thur Sept 26. • Class location: Sequoyah Hall Room 148 • Office hours: Tuesday at 11:00am - 12:00pm, Thursday at 11:00am - 12:00pm. Other times by appointment. • Prerequisites: no formal requirements. But a solid high-school physics background would be recommended. A college-level physics background would definitely be sufficient. • Required texts: David Albert, Time and Chance (Harvard University Press, 2000; any version is fine). Sean Carroll, From Eternity to Here: The Quest for the Ultimate Theory of Time (Dutton, 2010; any version is fine). 1 3 Philosophy of Physics Why study philosophy of physics? Well, Phil Physics is one of the most exciting areas of philosophy; it brings together philosophy and physics, and it intersects many domains, such as philosophy of science, metaphysics, epistemology, logic, and philosophy of language! If you wonder about the following questions, then this course is for you! • What is the nature of space and time? What is the meaning of relativity? • How to make sense of quantum mechanics? • What is a physical field? What are particles? • What is the meaning of probability in physical theories? • What kind of things are laws of nature (such as Newton’s laws and the Schrörindger equation)? What are symmetries and invariances? • Why is mathematics so effective at describing the physical world, from medium- sized dry goods to fundamental physical theories? • How does physics relate to the rest of the sciences such as biology and psychology? • What is the place of the mind and of the consciousness in a physical world? We won’t be able to address all of these questions. -
The Significance for Natural Philosophy of the Move From
Journal for General Philosophy of Science (2020) 51:627–629 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10838-020-09533-3 ARTICLE The Signifcance for Natural Philosophy of the Move from Classical to Modern Physics Grete Hermann1 Published online: 10 December 2020 © The Author(s) 2020 SUMMARY—This study shows how, despite the changes it has introduced, modern physics preserves certain fundamental ideas of classical physics (Bohr’s correspondence princi- ple). While it gives up much of the ideal of a mechanistic physics, it still remains tied to Kant’s thesis that the forms of intuition and the categories are the necessary presupposi- tions for the knowledge of nature. 1. The development of modern physics has two distinctive aspects: on the one hand the demand for a revision of almost all fundamental assumptions on which the knowledge of nature has been based until now, and indeed for a revision based on experience; on the other hand the upholding of certain fundamental conceptions of classical physics, which fnds its strongest expression in Bohr’s correspondence principle. Modern physics presents us with the problem within natural philosophy of reconciling these two aspects. 2. The dualism between the wave and particle picture in quantum mechanics, with its consequences for [our] causal command of natural phenomena represents the strongest departure from the classical picture of nature. But this departure is closely connected to a series of earlier transformations in the picture of nature. The frst step in this direction is taken in Maxwell’s theory, which detaches the wave picture from the presupposition of a material support until then taken for granted. -
Journal of Transcendental Philosophy 2021; 2(1): 21–45
Journal of Transcendental Philosophy 2021; 2(1): 21–45 Brigitte Falkenburg* Edgar Wind on Experiment and Metaphysics https://doi.org/10.1515/jtph-2020-0038 Published online April 26, 2021 Abstract: The paper presents a detailed interpretation of Edgar Wind’s Experiment and Metaphysics (1934), a unique work on the philosophy of physics which broke with the Neo-Kantian tradition under the influence of American pragmatism. Taking up Cassirer’s interpretation of physics, Wind develops a holistic theory of the experiment and a constructivist account of empirical facts. Based on the concept of embodiment which plays a key role in Wind’s later writings on art history, he argues, however, that the outcomes of measurements are contingent. He then proposes an anti-Kantian conception of a metaphysics of nature. For him, nature is an unknown totality which manifests itself in discrepancies between theories and experiment, and hence the theory formation of physics can increas- ingly approximate the structure of nature. It is shown that this view is ambiguous between a transcendental, metaphysical realism in Kant’s sense and an internal realism in Putnam’s sense. Wind’s central claim is that twentieth century physics offers new options for resolving Kant’s cosmological antinomies. In particular, he connected quantum indeterminism with the possibility of human freedom, a connection that Cassirer sharply opposed. Keywords: cosmological antinomy, experiment, metaphysics, Edgar wind, embodiment 1 Introduction Edgar Wind’s Experiment and Metaphysics (Wind 1934, 2001) is a neglected work in the philosophy of science. When it was published, Wind, like Cassirer and many other scholars, had already left Germany.