Mierau Erhard Scheibe's Structuralism

Roots and Prospects
1. Auflage 2023
ISBN: 978-3-031-25347-8
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, Band 213, 178 Seiten, eBook

Reihe: Fundamental Theories of Physics

This book offers the first systematic review of the structuralism of physical theories. Particular emphasis is placed on the inclusion of empirical imprecision into formal reconstructions of theories. The proposed measure of imprecision allows for a topological comparison of theories. Considering the ongoing debates on the nature of the thermodynamic limit in statistical mechanics, as well as on limit relations between classical and quantum mechanics, the author asserts that the Bourbaki-style structuralism, together with E. Scheibe's theory of reduction, is the best choice for reconstructing and analyzing the related questions of reduction and emergence. Readers will appreciate the critical overview of the main positions in philosophy of science, examined with particular attention to their applicability to current problems of fundamental theories of physics.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Mierau, Johannes

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction.- The Received View of theories.- From statements to structures.- From structures to statements.- Scheibe’s hybrid structuralism.- On Scheibe’s theory of reduction.- Conclusion: Views on scientific theories.

Über Autor(innen)

Johannes Mierau's academic background is in physics, in which he graduatedin 2014. He specialized in theoretical condensed matter physicsand went on to do a PhD in the field of philosophy of science,with special emphasis on the philosophy of physics, under thesupervision of Prof. Dr. Dr. Brigitte Falkenburg at TechnicalUniversity of Dortmund. In his PhD-thesis, he applied Scheibe'stheory to show that the purported paradox of phase transitions, anextensively discussed problem in philosophy of physics, is theproduct of the disregard of the imprecise nature of the involvedphysical theories. Johannes Mierau is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher for the chair oftheoretical philosophy and philosophy of the social sciences atWitten/Herdecke University.