Sophistry about symmetries?
A common adage runs that, given a theory manifesting symmetries, the syntax of that theory should be modified in order to construct a new theory, from which symmetry-variant structure of the original theory has been excised. Call this strategy for explicating the underlying ontology of symmetry-rela...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Journal article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2021
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| _version_ | 1826280858230718464 |
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| author | Martens, N Read, J |
| author_facet | Martens, N Read, J |
| author_sort | Martens, N |
| collection | OXFORD |
| description | A common adage runs that, given a theory manifesting symmetries, the syntax of that theory should be modified in order to construct a new theory, from which symmetry-variant structure of the original theory has been excised. Call this strategy for explicating the underlying ontology of symmetry-related models reduction. Recently, Dewar has proposed an alternative to reduction as a means of articulating the ontology of symmetry-related models—what he calls (external) sophistication, in which the semantics of the original theory is modified, and symmetry-related models of that theory are treated as if they are isomorphic. In this paper, we undertake a critical evaluation of sophistication about symmetries—we find the programme underdeveloped in a number of regards. In addition, we clarify the interplay between sophistication about symmetries, and a separate debate to which Dewar has contributed—viz., that between interpretational versus motivational approaches to symmetry transformations.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:20:02Z |
| format | Journal article |
| id | oxford-uuid:7c38c4dd-b71c-426c-b68f-c5d860b98fcc |
| institution | University of Oxford |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T00:20:02Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | oxford-uuid:7c38c4dd-b71c-426c-b68f-c5d860b98fcc2022-03-26T20:55:41ZSophistry about symmetries?Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:7c38c4dd-b71c-426c-b68f-c5d860b98fccEnglishSymplectic ElementsSpringer2021Martens, NRead, JA common adage runs that, given a theory manifesting symmetries, the syntax of that theory should be modified in order to construct a new theory, from which symmetry-variant structure of the original theory has been excised. Call this strategy for explicating the underlying ontology of symmetry-related models reduction. Recently, Dewar has proposed an alternative to reduction as a means of articulating the ontology of symmetry-related models—what he calls (external) sophistication, in which the semantics of the original theory is modified, and symmetry-related models of that theory are treated as if they are isomorphic. In this paper, we undertake a critical evaluation of sophistication about symmetries—we find the programme underdeveloped in a number of regards. In addition, we clarify the interplay between sophistication about symmetries, and a separate debate to which Dewar has contributed—viz., that between interpretational versus motivational approaches to symmetry transformations. |
| spellingShingle | Martens, N Read, J Sophistry about symmetries? |
| title | Sophistry about symmetries? |
| title_full | Sophistry about symmetries? |
| title_fullStr | Sophistry about symmetries? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sophistry about symmetries? |
| title_short | Sophistry about symmetries? |
| title_sort | sophistry about symmetries |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT martensn sophistryaboutsymmetries AT readj sophistryaboutsymmetries |