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Symmetry and Equivalence

Belot, Gordon (2011) Symmetry and Equivalence. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper is concerned with the relation between two notions: that of two solutions or models of a theory being related by a symmetry of the theory and that of solutions or models being physically equivalent (in the sense of being equally well- or ill-suited to represent any given situation, relative to any reasonable interpretation). A number of authors have recently discussed this relation, some taking an optimistic view, on which there is a suitable concept of the symmetry of a theory relative to which these two notions coincide, others taking a pessimistic view, on which there is no such concept. The present paper arrives at a cautiously pessimistic conclusion.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Belot, Gordonbelot@umich.edu
Keywords: Symmetry, equivalence, Lie, Noether
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User: Gordon Belot
Date Deposited: 06 Jan 2011 14:48
Last Modified: 10 Aug 2012 14:07
Item ID: 8446
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date: 5 January 2011
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8446

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