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Real Patterns in Physics and Beyond

Wallace, David (2024) Real Patterns in Physics and Beyond. [Preprint]

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Abstract

I apply Dennett’s ‘real patterns’ idea to the ontology of physics, and specifically to the puzzle of how to relate the very different ontologies one finds at different scales in physics (e.g. particles vs continua, or fields vs particles). I argue that real patterns provide part but not all of the answer to the puzzle, and locate the rest of the answer in the structural-realist idea that ontology in general is secondary to (mathematically-presented) structure. I make some suggestions for the application of these ideas outside physics, including in the philosophy of mind context that motivated Dennett’s original proposal.

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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Wallace, Daviddavid.wallace@pitt.edu
Keywords: Structural realism Real patterns Emergence Inter-theoretic relations
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User: Professor David Wallace
Date Deposited: 21 Apr 2024 00:05
Last Modified: 21 Apr 2024 00:05
Item ID: 23307
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
General Issues > Reductionism/Holism
Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date: April 2024
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23307

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