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Idealizations and analogies: Explaining critical phenomena

Rodriguez, Quentin (2021) Idealizations and analogies: Explaining critical phenomena. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 89. pp. 235-247. ISSN 00393681

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Abstract

The “universality” of critical phenomena is much discussed in philosophy of scientific explanation, idealizations and philosophy of physics. Lange and Reutlinger recently opposed Batterman concerning the role of some deliberate distortions in unifying a large class of phenomena, regardless of microscopic constitution. They argue for an essential explanatory role for “commonalities” rather than that of idealizations. Building on Batterman’s insight, this article aims to show that assessing the differences between the universality of critical phenomena and two paradigmatic cases of “commonality strategy”—the ideal gas model and the harmonic oscillator model—is necessary to avoid the objections raised by Lange and Reutlinger. Taking these universal explanations as benchmarks for critical phenomena reveals the importance of the different roles played by analogies underlying the use of the models. A special combination of physical and formal analogies allows one to explain the epistemic autonomy of the universality of critical phenomena through an explicative loop.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Rodriguez, Quentinrodriguez.quentin@gmail.com0000-0001-9033-3332
Keywords: explanation; universality; unification; models; idealization; analogy
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Applicability
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User: Mr. Quentin Rodriguez
Date Deposited: 24 Oct 2021 03:43
Last Modified: 24 Oct 2021 03:43
Item ID: 19740
Journal or Publication Title: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.08.007
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2021.08.007
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Applicability
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date: October 2021
Page Range: pp. 235-247
Volume: 89
ISSN: 00393681
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19740

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