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On the Structure of Classical Mechanics

Barrett, Thomas William (2013) On the Structure of Classical Mechanics. [Preprint]

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    Abstract

    Jill North (North, 2009) has recently argued that Hamiltonian mechanics ascribes less structure to the world than Lagrangian mechanics does. I will argue that North's argument is not sound. In doing so, I will present some obstacles that must be navigated by anyone interested in comparing the amounts of structure that different physical theories ascribe to the world.

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    Item Type: Preprint
    Keywords: classical mechanics, structure, Lagrangian mechanics, Hamiltonian mechanics, statespace
    Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics
    General Issues > Structure of Theories
    Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
    Depositing User: Thomas William Barrett
    Date Deposited: 22 Feb 2013 09:31
    Last Modified: 05 Mar 2013 08:32
    Item ID: 9586
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9586

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