List, Christian and Pivato, Marcus (2016) Dynamic and stochastic systems as a framework for metaphysics and the philosophy of science. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Scientists often think of the world (or some part of it) as a dynamical system, a stochastic process, or a generalization of such a system. Prominent examples of systems are (i) the system of planets orbiting the sun or any other classical mechanical system, (ii) a hydrogen atom or any other quantum-mechanical system, and (iii) the earth’s atmosphere or any other statistical mechanical system. We introduce a simple and general framework for describing such systems and show how it can be used to examine some familiar philosophical questions, including the following: how can we define nomological possibility, necessity, determinism, and indeterminism; what are symmetries and laws; what regularities must a system display to make scientific inference possible; is there any metaphysical basis for invoking principles of parsimony such as Occam’s Razor when we make such inferences; and what is the role of space and time in a system? Our framework is intended to serve as a toolbox for the formal analysis of systems that is applicable in several areas of philosophy.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID List, Christian c.list@lse.ac.uk Pivato, Marcus marcuspivato@gmail.com
Keywords:	Dynamical systems, stochastic processes, nomological possibility and necessity, determinism, indeterminism, laws, symmetries, regularities, scientific inference, ergodicity, Occam's Razor, space, time, formal metaphysics
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User:	Christian List
Date Deposited:	17 Aug 2016 15:55
Last Modified:	17 Aug 2016 15:55
Item ID:	12371
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Complex Systems General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism General Issues > Laws of Nature Specific Sciences > Physics Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date:	23 April 2016
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12371

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• Dynamic and stochastic systems as a framework for metaphysics and the philosophy of science. (deposited 14 Aug 2015 13:54)
  • Dynamic and stochastic systems as a framework for metaphysics and the philosophy of science. (deposited 17 Aug 2016 15:55) [Currently Displayed]
    • Dynamic and stochastic systems as a framework for metaphysics and the philosophy of science. (deposited 27 Apr 2019 13:01)

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