Healey, Richard (2008) Perfect Symmetries. [Preprint]

Preview

PDF PerfectSymmetries.pdf Download (281kB)

Abstract

While empirical symmetries relate situations, theoretical symmetries relate models of a theory we use to represent them. An empirical symmetry is perfect if and only if any two situations it relates share all intrinsic properties. Sometimes one can use a theory to explain an empirical symmetry by showing how it follows from a corresponding theoretical symmetry. The theory then reveals a perfect symmetry. I say what this involves and why it matters, beginning with a puzzle which is resolved by the subsequent analysis. I conclude by pointing to applications and implications of the ideas developed earlier in the paper.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Healey, Richard
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Keywords:	Symmetries, gauge, intrinsic property, relativity principle
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics
Depositing User:	Richard Andrew Healey
Date Deposited:	03 Aug 2008
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:16
Item ID:	4144
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Symmetries/Invariances Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory Specific Sciences > Physics > Fields and Particles Specific Sciences > Physics
Date:	August 2008
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4144

Available Versions of this Item

• Perfect Symmetries. (deposited 19 Dec 2007)
  • Perfect Symmetries. (deposited 03 Aug 2008) [Currently Displayed]

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item