Empiricism and philosophy of physics / Lars-Göran Johansson.
Johansson, Lars-Göran, author.
2021
B816
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Title Empiricism and philosophy of physics / Lars-Göran Johansson.
Author Johansson, Lars-Göran, author.
ISBN 3030649539 (electronic book)
9783030649531 (electronic bk.)
3030649520
9783030649524
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64953-1
Published Cham, Switzerland : Springer, [2021]
Language English
Description 1 online resource (xvii, 291 pages) : illustrations (some color)
Item Number 10.1007/978-3-030-64953-1 doi
Call Number B816
Dewey Decimal Classification 146/.44
Summary This book presents a thoroughly empiricist account of physics. By providing an overview of the development of empiricism from Ockham to van Fraassen the book lays the foundation for its own version of empiricism. Empiricism for the author consists of three ideas: nominalism, i.e. dismissing second order quantification as unnecessary, epistemological naturalism, and viewing classification of things in natural kinds as a human habit not in need for any justification. The book offers views on the realism-antirealism debate as well as on the individuation of theories as a thoroughly neglected aspect of underdetermination. The book next discusses a broad range of topics, including the predicates body, spatial distance and time interval, the ontology of electromagnetism, propensities, the measurement problem and other philosophical issues in quantum theory. Discussions about the direction of time and about string theory make up the final part of the book.
Bibliography, etc. Note Includes bibliographical references and index.
Access Note Access limited to authorized users.
Source of Description Online resource; title from PDF title page (SpringerLink, viewed March 3, 2021).
Series Synthese library ; v. 434. 0166-6991
Available in Other Form Print version: 9783030649524
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Preface
Part I. Background. 1. Problems in Philosophy of Physics
2. Some Important Episodes in the History of Physics
Part II. General Philosophy of Science. 3. Empiricism from Ockham to van Fraassen
4. Mathematical Knowledge and Mathematical Objects
5. Induction and Concept Formation
6. Explanation, Unification and Reduction
7. Realism, Theory-Equivalence and Underdetermination of Theories
Part III. Philosophy of Physics. 8 Causation in Physics
9. Space, Time and Body; Three Fundamental Concepts
10. Laws
11. Electromagnetism: Fields or Particles?
12. Propensities
13. Direction of Time
14. Identity, Individuation, Indistinguishability and Entanglement
15. Quantum Waves and Indeterminacy
16. The Measurement Problem
17. What is Spacetime?
18. Summary and Conclusions
Bibliography
Index.

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