Hamiltonian Privilege
Abstract We argue that Hamiltonian mechanics is more fundamental than Lagrangian mechanics. Our argument provides a non-metaphysical strategy for privileging one formulation of a theory over another: ceteris paribus, a more general formulation is more fundamental. We illustrate this cri...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| מחברים אחרים: | |
| פורמט: | Article |
| שפה: | English |
| יצא לאור: |
Springer Netherlands
2023
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| גישה מקוונת: | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150940 |
| _version_ | 1826209941195587584 |
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| author | Hunt, Josh Carcassi, Gabriele Aidala, Christine |
| author2 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Linguistics and Philosophy |
| author_facet | Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Linguistics and Philosophy Hunt, Josh Carcassi, Gabriele Aidala, Christine |
| author_sort | Hunt, Josh |
| collection | MIT |
| description | Abstract
We argue that Hamiltonian mechanics is more fundamental than Lagrangian mechanics. Our argument provides a non-metaphysical strategy for privileging one formulation of a theory over another: ceteris paribus, a more general formulation is more fundamental. We illustrate this criterion through a novel interpretation of classical mechanics, based on three physical conditions. Two of these conditions suffice for recovering Hamiltonian mechanics. A third condition is necessary for Lagrangian mechanics. Hence, Lagrangian systems are a proper subset of Hamiltonian systems. Finally, we provide a geometric interpretation of the principle of stationary action and rebut arguments for privileging Lagrangian mechanics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-09-23T14:36:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | mit-1721.1/150940 |
| institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-09-23T14:36:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publisher | Springer Netherlands |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | mit-1721.1/1509402024-01-22T18:25:28Z Hamiltonian Privilege Hunt, Josh Carcassi, Gabriele Aidala, Christine Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Linguistics and Philosophy Abstract We argue that Hamiltonian mechanics is more fundamental than Lagrangian mechanics. Our argument provides a non-metaphysical strategy for privileging one formulation of a theory over another: ceteris paribus, a more general formulation is more fundamental. We illustrate this criterion through a novel interpretation of classical mechanics, based on three physical conditions. Two of these conditions suffice for recovering Hamiltonian mechanics. A third condition is necessary for Lagrangian mechanics. Hence, Lagrangian systems are a proper subset of Hamiltonian systems. Finally, we provide a geometric interpretation of the principle of stationary action and rebut arguments for privileging Lagrangian mechanics. 2023-06-26T17:17:18Z 2023-06-26T17:17:18Z 2023-06-21 2023-06-25T03:10:54Z Article http://purl.org/eprint/type/JournalArticle https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150940 Hunt, Josh, Carcassi, Gabriele and Aidala, Christine. 2023. "Hamiltonian Privilege." PUBLISHER_CC en https://doi.org/10.1007/s10670-023-00708-0 Creative Commons Attribution http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ The Author(s) application/pdf Springer Netherlands Springer Netherlands |
| spellingShingle | Hunt, Josh Carcassi, Gabriele Aidala, Christine Hamiltonian Privilege |
| title | Hamiltonian Privilege |
| title_full | Hamiltonian Privilege |
| title_fullStr | Hamiltonian Privilege |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hamiltonian Privilege |
| title_short | Hamiltonian Privilege |
| title_sort | hamiltonian privilege |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/150940 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huntjosh hamiltonianprivilege AT carcassigabriele hamiltonianprivilege AT aidalachristine hamiltonianprivilege |