Bokulich, Alisa (2004) Open or Closed? Dirac, Heisenberg, and the Relation between Classical and Quantum Mechanics. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper describes a long-standing, though little-known, debate between Paul Dirac and Werner Heisenberg over the nature of scientific methodology, theory change, and intertheoretic relations. Following Heisenberg’s terminology, their disagreements can be summarized as a debate over whether the classical and quantum theories are “open” or “closed.” A close examination of this debate sheds new light on the philosophical views of two of the great founders of quantum theory.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Bokulich, Alisa
Additional Information:	This paper is forthcoming in Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (2004) 35 (3).
Keywords:	Heisenberg; Dirac; Classical mechanics; Quantum mechanics; Closed theory; Intertheoretic relations; reductionism; Kuhn; theory change
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Theory Change Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User:	Alisa Bokulich
Date Deposited:	13 Feb 2004
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:12
Item ID:	1614
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science General Issues > Theory Change Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date:	September 2004
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/1614

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