De Haro, Sebastian (2019) The Heuristic Function of Duality. Synthese, 196. pp. 5169-5203. ISSN 1573-0964

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Abstract

I conceptualise the role of dualities in quantum gravity, in terms of their functions for theory construction. I distinguish between two functions of duality in physical practice: namely, discovering and describing 'equivalent physics', vs. suggesting 'new physics'. I dub these the 'theoretical' vs. the 'heuristic' functions of dualities. The distinction seems to have gone largely unnoticed in the philosophical literature: and it exists both for dualities, and for the more general relation of theoretical equivalence. The paper develops the heuristic function of dualities: illustrating how they can be used, if one has any luck, to find and formulate new theories. I also point to the different physical commitments about the theories in question that underlie these two functions. I show how a recently developed schema for dualities articulates the differences between the two functions.

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Item Type:	Published Article or Volume
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID De Haro, Sebastian sd696@cam.ac.uk 0000-0002-3000-5967
Keywords:	heuristics, duality, methodology in quantum gravity
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Methodology Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Depositing User:	Dr Sebastian De Haro
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2020 03:40
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2020 03:40
Item ID:	16992
Journal or Publication Title:	Synthese
Publisher:	Springer (Springer Science+Business Media B.V.)
Official URL:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-0...
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-018-1708-9
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Methodology Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Gravity
Date:	1 December 2019
Page Range:	pp. 5169-5203
Volume:	196
ISSN:	1573-0964
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16992

Available Versions of this Item

• The Heuristic Function of Duality. (deposited 28 Jan 2018 02:16)
  • The Heuristic Function of Duality. (deposited 12 Mar 2020 03:37)
    • The Heuristic Function of Duality. (deposited 12 Mar 2020 03:40) [Currently Displayed]

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