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Symmetries, Indexicality and the Perspectivist Stance

Ruyant, Quentin (2021) Symmetries, Indexicality and the Perspectivist Stance. International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 34 (1). pp. 21-39. ISSN 0269-8595

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Abstract

I critically examine the assumption that the theoretical structure that varies under theoretical symmetries is redundant and should be eliminated from a metaphysical picture of the universe, following a ‘symmetry to reality’ inference. I do so by analysing the status of coordinate change symmetries taking a pragmatic approach. I argue that coordinate systems function as indexical devices, and play an important pragmatic role for representing concrete physical systems. I examine the implications of considering this pragmatic role seriously, taking what I call a perspectivist stance. My conclusion is that under a perspectivist stance, all symmetries (including local gauge symmetries) potentially have a direct empirical status: they point to dynamical aspects that are invariant under changes of operationalisation, and they constitute a guide not to reality, but to nomology and kinship.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Ruyant, Quentinquentin.ruyant@gmail.com
Keywords: symmetries indexicality perspectivism
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Experimentation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
General Issues > Theory/Observation
Depositing User: Mr. Quentin Ruyant
Date Deposited: 22 May 2023 15:44
Last Modified: 22 May 2023 15:44
Item ID: 22126
Journal or Publication Title: International Studies in the Philosophy of Science
Publisher: Routledge: Francis and Taylor
Official URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/026985...
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1080/02698595.2021.2001723
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Experimentation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Structure of Theories
Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
General Issues > Theory/Observation
Date: November 2021
Page Range: pp. 21-39
Volume: 34
Number: 1
ISSN: 0269-8595
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22126

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