Jacobs, Caspar
(2022)
Invariance, Intrinsicality, and Perspicuity.
[Preprint]
Abstract
It is now standard to interpret symmetry-related models of physical theories as representing the same state of affairs. Recently, a debate has sprung up around the question when this interpretational move is warranted. In particular, Moller-Nielsen (2017) has argued that one is only allowed to interpret symmetry-related models as physically equivalent when one has a characterisation of their common content. I disambiguate two versions of this claim. On the first, a perspicuous interpretation is required: an account of the models' common ontology. On the second, stricter, version of this claim, a perspicuous formalism is required in addition: one whose mathematical structures `intrinsically' represent the physical world, in the sense of Field (1980). Using Dewar (2019)'s distinction between internal and external sophistication as a case study, I argue that the second requirement is decisive. This clarifies the conditions under which it is warranted to interpret symmetry-related models as physically equivalent.
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}