Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years Later
Physicists usually admit a rather naive concept of physical reality: it is the object they are investigating using experiments understood as actions in the real world. In theoretical physics, the object of investigation is not the real world itself but its mathematical description which is considere...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Estonian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science
2016-10-01
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| Series: | Acta Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum |
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| Online Access: | http://www.bahps.org/05_Kuusk-2016-2-05.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818959848996339712 |
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| author | Piret Kuusk |
| author_facet | Piret Kuusk |
| author_sort | Piret Kuusk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physicists usually admit a rather naive concept of physical reality: it is the object they are investigating using experiments understood as actions in the real world. In theoretical physics, the object of investigation is not the real world itself but its mathematical description which is considered as describing physical reality as exactly as possible. I present arguments from philosophy of science and from recent work in the theory of gravitational physics which indicate a possibility to defend also antirealistic views, and clarify in which sense both standpoints can be viable. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:48:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a7c5a5d1be4a4a51bb29adda10d50475 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2228-2009 2228-2017 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T11:48:10Z |
| publishDate | 2016-10-01 |
| publisher | Estonian Association of the History and Philosophy of Science |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum |
| spelling | doaj.art-a7c5a5d1be4a4a51bb29adda10d504752022-12-21T19:41:50ZengEstonian Association of the History and Philosophy of ScienceActa Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum2228-20092228-20172016-10-0142889710.11590/abhps.2016.2.05Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years LaterPiret Kuusk0University of TartuPhysicists usually admit a rather naive concept of physical reality: it is the object they are investigating using experiments understood as actions in the real world. In theoretical physics, the object of investigation is not the real world itself but its mathematical description which is considered as describing physical reality as exactly as possible. I present arguments from philosophy of science and from recent work in the theory of gravitational physics which indicate a possibility to defend also antirealistic views, and clarify in which sense both standpoints can be viable.http://www.bahps.org/05_Kuusk-2016-2-05.pdfgeneral relativityscientific antirealismscientific realismspacetimeteleparallel equivalent of general relativity |
| spellingShingle | Piret Kuusk Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years Later Acta Baltica Historiae et Philosophiae Scientiarum general relativity scientific antirealism scientific realism spacetime teleparallel equivalent of general relativity |
| title | Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years Later |
| title_full | Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years Later |
| title_fullStr | Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years Later |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years Later |
| title_short | Physical Reality, Theoretical Physics, and Mathematics—15 Years Later |
| title_sort | physical reality theoretical physics and mathematics 15 years later |
| topic | general relativity scientific antirealism scientific realism spacetime teleparallel equivalent of general relativity |
| url | http://www.bahps.org/05_Kuusk-2016-2-05.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT piretkuusk physicalrealitytheoreticalphysicsandmathematics15yearslater |