Miller, Ryan (2019) Perennial Symmetry Arguments: Aristotle’s Heavenly Cosmology and Noether’s First Theorem. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Attempts to find perennial elements in Aristotle’s cosmology are doomed to failure because his distinction of sub- and supra-lunary realms no longer holds. More fruitful approaches to the contemporary importance of Aristotelian cosmology must focus on parities of reasoning rather than content. This paper highlights the striking parallels between Aristotle’s use of symmetry arguments in cosmology and instances of Noether’s First Theorem in contemporary physics. Both observe simple motion, find symmetries in that motion, argue from those symmetries to notions of conservation, and then conclude to cosmological structure. These parallels reveal an enduring relevance for Aristotelian cosmology that does not depend on positing an enduring content to his cosmological claims.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Miller, Ryan 66millerr@cua.edu 0000-0003-0268-2570
Additional Information:	Contributed paper for the 2019 meeting of the American Catholic Philosophical Association; accepted after peer review for forthcoming publication in the Proceedings thereof (an annual supplement to the American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly).
Keywords:	Aristotle Noether symmetry cosmology
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Depositing User:	Ryan Miller
Date Deposited:	15 Aug 2019 02:00
Last Modified:	15 Aug 2019 02:00
Item ID:	16322
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances
Date:	November 2019
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/16322

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• Perennial Symmetry Arguments: Aristotle’s Heavenly Cosmology and Noether’s First Theorem. (deposited 15 Aug 2019 02:00) [Currently Displayed]
  • Perennial Symmetry Arguments: Aristotle’s Heavenly Cosmology and Noether’s First Theorem. (deposited 29 Apr 2021 15:13)

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