creators_name: Rickles, Dean
type: pittpreprint
datestamp: 2004-07-22
lastmod: 2010-10-07 15:12:38
metadata_visibility: show
title: Symmetry & Possibility: To Reduce or not Reduce?
subjects: classical-physics
subjects: reductionism-holism
subjects: fields-and-particles
full_text_status: public
keywords: Symmetry, reduction, modality, spacetime
abstract: In this paper I examine the connection between symmetry and modality from the perspective of `reduction' methods in geometric mechanics. I begin by setting the problem up as a choice between two opposing views: reduction and non-reduction. I then discern four views on the matter in the literature; they are distinguished by their advocation of distinct geometric spaces as representing `reality'. I come down in favour of non-reductive methods.
date: 2004-07
date_type: published
citation: Rickles, Dean (2004) Symmetry & Possibility: To Reduce or not Reduce? [Preprint]
document_url: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/1846/1/reduction.pdf