Reutlinger, Alexander (2016) Do Renormalization Group Explanations Conform to the Commonality Strategy? [Preprint]

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Abstract

Renormalization group (RG) explanations account for the astonishing
phenomenon that microscopically very different physical systems display the
same macro-behavior when undergoing phase-transitions. Among philosophers,
this explanandum phenomenon is often described as the occurrence of a
particular kind of multiply realized macro-behavior. In several recent
publications, Robert Batterman denies that RG explanations account for this
explanandum phenomenon by following (what I call) the commonality strategy,
i.e. by identifying properties that microscopically very different physical systems
have in common. Arguing against Batterman’s claim, I defend the view that RG
explanations are in accord with the commonality strategy.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Reutlinger, Alexander Alexander.Reutlinger@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Additional Information:	forthcoming in: Journal for General Philosophy of Science
Keywords:	scientific explanation, multiple realization, universality, renormalization group explanation, statistical physics, emergence
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User:	Alexander Reutlinger
Date Deposited:	19 Feb 2016 01:09
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2016 01:09
Item ID:	11915
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date:	January 2016
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11915

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