Murgueitio Ramírez, Sebastián (2024) Symmetries and Measurements. [Preprint]
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Abstract
According to the orthodox view, one can appeal to the symmetries of a theory in order to show that it is impossible to measure the properties that are not invariant under such symmetries. For example, it is widely believed that the fact that boosts are symmetries of Newtonian mechanics entails that it is impossible to measure states of absolute motion in a Newtonian world (these states vary under boosts). This paper offers an overview of the various ways by which philosophers have spelled out the connection between the symmetries of a theory and the alleged impossibility of measuring some properties (the variant ones). The paper will use the case of absolute motion as a case study, and will discuss a recent unorthodox view according to which this kind of motion can actually be measured in Newtonian mechanics. The paper ends by considering some avenues by which the discussion can be further developed.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Keywords: | Symmetry measurement absolute velocity Newtonian mechanics variant quantities | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances General Issues > Theory/Observation |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Sebastián Murgueitio Ramírez | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 01 Jun 2024 03:06 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 01 Jun 2024 03:06 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 23496 | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances General Issues > Theory/Observation |
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| Date: | 29 May 2024 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23496 |
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