Rosaler, Joshua (2015) "Formal" vs. "Empirical" Approaches to Quantum-Classical Reduction. Topoi, 34 (2). pp. 325-338.

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Abstract

I distinguish two types of reduction within the context of quantum-classical relations, which I designate "formal" and "empirical". Formal reduction holds or fails to hold solely by virtue of the mathematical relationship between two theories; it is therefore a two-place, a priori relation between theories. Empirical reduction requires one theory to encompass the range of physical behaviors that are well-modeled in another theory; in a certain sense, it is a three-place, a posteriori relation connecting the theories and the domain of physical reality that both serve to describe. Focusing on the relationship between classical and quantum mechanics, I argue that while certain formal results concerning singular limits as Planck's constant goes to zero have been taken to preclude the possibility of reduction between these theories, such results at most block reduction in the formal sense; little if any reason has been given for thinking that they block reduction in the empirical sense. I then briefly outline a strategy for empirical reduction that is suggested by work on decoherence theory, arguing that this sort of account remains a fully viable route to the empirical reduction of classical to quantum mechanics and is unaffected by such singular limits.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Rosaler, Joshua rosaler@post.harvard.edu
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Dr. Joshua Rosaler
Date Deposited:	24 Oct 2015 23:01
Last Modified:	24 Oct 2015 23:01
Item ID:	11734
Journal or Publication Title:	Topoi
Publisher:	Springer
Official URL:	http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11245-...
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	2015
Page Range:	pp. 325-338
Volume:	34
Number:	2
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11734

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• "Formal" vs. "Empirical" Approaches to Quantum-Classical Reduction. (deposited 23 Oct 2015 20:23)
  • "Formal" vs. "Empirical" Approaches to Quantum-Classical Reduction. (deposited 24 Oct 2015 23:01) [Currently Displayed]

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