Fletcher, Samuel C. (2019) Similarity Structure and Emergent Properties. Philosophy of Science, 87 (2). pp. 281-301. ISSN 1539-767X
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Abstract
The concept of emergence is commonly invoked in modern physics but rarely defined; even when it is, it is typically only done so informally. Building on recent influential work by Butterfield (2011a,b), I provide precise definitions of emergence concepts as they pertain to properties represented in models, applying them to some basic examples from spacetime and thermostatistical physics. The chief formal innovation I employ, similarity structure, consists in a structured set of similarity relations amongst those models under analysis - and their properties - and is a generalization of topological structure. Although motivated from physics, this similarity-structure-based account of emergence applies to any science that represents its possibilia with (mathematical) models.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Additional Information: | This is the postprint version: after final peer review but before copyediting. Published in 2020. Also available at author's website. | ||||||
| Keywords: | Similarity, Topology, Emergence, Models | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Structure of Theories |
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| Depositing User: | Prof. Samuel C. Fletcher | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 29 May 2020 03:27 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 29 May 2020 03:27 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 17227 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Philosophy of Science | ||||||
| Publisher: | University of Chicago Press | ||||||
| DOI or Unique Handle: | 10.1086/707563 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Structure of Theories |
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| Date: | 1 August 2019 | ||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 281-301 | ||||||
| Volume: | 87 | ||||||
| Number: | 2 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 1539-767X | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/17227 |
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