A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws
We advance a framework for an inferential conception of physical laws, addressing the problem of the application of mathematical structures to the relevant structure of physical domains. Physical laws, we argue, express generalizations that work as rules for deriving physically informative inference...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina
2019-12-01
|
| Series: | Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/principia/article/view/70055 |
| _version_ | 1818190551246176256 |
|---|---|
| author | Cristian Soto Otávio Bueno |
| author_facet | Cristian Soto Otávio Bueno |
| author_sort | Cristian Soto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We advance a framework for an inferential conception of physical laws, addressing the problem of the application of mathematical structures to the relevant structure of physical domains. Physical laws, we argue, express generalizations that work as rules for deriving physically informative inferences about their target systems, hence guiding us in our interaction with various domains. Our analysis of the application of mathematics to the articulation of physical laws follows a threefold scheme. First, we examine the immersion of the relevant structure of physical domains into mathematical structures. Second, we assess the inferential power of laws resulting from the mathematical formalism employed in the immersion step. And third, we provide a suitable physical interpretation for the extant mathematical structures obtained from the inferential step. We demonstrate that a deflationary, empiricist framework for an inferential conception of physical laws delivers both an understanding of the mathematical character of physical laws, and a way of responding to some of the standard philosophical riddles associated with laws. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:00:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6720ec9d3da94f07a071ba1c85651e7a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1414-4247 1808-1711 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T00:00:31Z |
| publishDate | 2019-12-01 |
| publisher | Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6720ec9d3da94f07a071ba1c85651e7a2022-12-22T00:45:15ZengUniversidade Federal de Santa CatarinaPrincipia: An International Journal of Epistemology1414-42471808-17112019-12-0123342344410.5007/1808-1711.2019v23n3p42333886A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical LawsCristian Soto0Otávio Bueno1Departamento de Filosofía Universidad de Chile ChileDepartment of Philosophy - University of MiamiWe advance a framework for an inferential conception of physical laws, addressing the problem of the application of mathematical structures to the relevant structure of physical domains. Physical laws, we argue, express generalizations that work as rules for deriving physically informative inferences about their target systems, hence guiding us in our interaction with various domains. Our analysis of the application of mathematics to the articulation of physical laws follows a threefold scheme. First, we examine the immersion of the relevant structure of physical domains into mathematical structures. Second, we assess the inferential power of laws resulting from the mathematical formalism employed in the immersion step. And third, we provide a suitable physical interpretation for the extant mathematical structures obtained from the inferential step. We demonstrate that a deflationary, empiricist framework for an inferential conception of physical laws delivers both an understanding of the mathematical character of physical laws, and a way of responding to some of the standard philosophical riddles associated with laws.https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/principia/article/view/70055physical lawsapplied mathematicsmapping accountmathematical structuresphysical structuresempirical generalizations |
| spellingShingle | Cristian Soto Otávio Bueno A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws Principia: An International Journal of Epistemology physical laws applied mathematics mapping account mathematical structures physical structures empirical generalizations |
| title | A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws |
| title_full | A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws |
| title_fullStr | A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws |
| title_short | A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws |
| title_sort | framework for an inferential conception of physical laws |
| topic | physical laws applied mathematics mapping account mathematical structures physical structures empirical generalizations |
| url | https://periodicos.ufsc.br/index.php/principia/article/view/70055 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT cristiansoto aframeworkforaninferentialconceptionofphysicallaws AT otaviobueno aframeworkforaninferentialconceptionofphysicallaws AT cristiansoto frameworkforaninferentialconceptionofphysicallaws AT otaviobueno frameworkforaninferentialconceptionofphysicallaws |