Caitlin Jacobs
Datos Biográficos
| ID | 119815 |
|---|---|
| NOMBRE | Caitlin Jacobs |
| NOMBRES | Caitlin |
| APELLIDO | Jacobs |
| FIRMA | JACOBS C |
| AFILIACIONES | Leiden University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6903-0468 |
| VERIFICADO | Sí |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 15 |
| TOTAL DE CITAS | 20 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 15 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMER AÑO DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2015 |
| AÑO MÁS RECIENTE DE PUBLICACIÓN | 2025 |
| ÍNDICE H | 3 |
How (Not) to Define Inertial Frames
It is nearly impossible to open a textbook on Newtonian mechanics without encountering the concept of inertial frames: the frames that are privileged by the theory’s dynamics. In this paper, I argue that extant definitions of inertial frames are unsatisfactory. I criticize two common definitions of inertial frames: law-based definitions, according to which inertial frames are simply those in which the laws are true, and structure-based definition…
Kinematical Equivalence and Cosmic Conspiracies
Comparativist Theories or Conspiracy Theories
Although physical theories routinely posit absolute quantities, such as absolute position or intrinsic mass, it seems that only comparative quantities such as distance and mass ratio are observable. But even if there are in fact only distances and mass ratios, the success of absolutist theories means that the world looks just as if there are absolute positions and intrinsic masses. If comparativism is nevertheless true, there is a sense in which …
Some Neglected Possibilities
The infamous Hole Argument has led philosophers to develop various versions of substantivalism, of which metric essentialism and sophisticated substantivalism are the most popular. In this journal, Trevor Teitel has recently advanced novel arguments against both positions. However, Teitel does not discuss the position of Jeremy Butterfield, which appeals to Lewisian counterpart theory in order to avoid the Hole Argument. In this note I show that …
In Defence of Dimensions
Philosophy of Knowledge and Cognition
Are models our tools not our masters
It is often claimed that one can avoid the kind of underdetermination that is a typical consequence of symmetries in physics by stipulating that symmetry-related models represent the same state of affairs (Leibniz Equivalence). But recent commentators (Dasgupta in Philos Perspect 25:115–160, 2011; Pooley in: Knox and Wilson (eds) The Routledge companion to the philosophy of physics, Routledge, Milton Park, 2021; Pooley and Read in Br J Philos Sci…
The metaphysics of fibre bundles
Recently, Dewar (2019) has suggested that one can apply the strategy of 'sophistication'-as exemplified by sophisticated substantivalism as a response to the diffeomorphism invariance of General Relativity-to gauge theories such as electrodynamics. This requires a shift to the formalism of fibre bundles. In this paper, I develop and defend this suggestion. Where my approach differs from previous discussions is that I focus on the metaphysical pic…
The Nature of a Constant of Nature
Physics presents us with a symphony of natural constants: $G$ , ħ , $c$ , and so forth. Up to this point, constants have received comparatively little philosophical attention. In this article, I provide an account of dimensionful constants, in particular the gravitational constant. I propose that they represent interquantity structure in the form of relations between quantities with different dimensions. I use this account of $G$ to settle a deba…
Are Dynamic Shifts Dynamical Symmetries
Shifts are a well-known feature of the literature on spacetime symmetries. Recently, discussions have focused on so-called dynamic shifts, which by analogy with static and kinematic shifts enact arbitrary linear accelerations of all matter (as well as a change in the gravitational potential). But in mathematical formulations of these shifts, the analogy breaks down: while static and kinematic shift act on the matter field, the dynamic shift acts …
The Coalescence Approach to Inequivalent Representation
In Interpreting Quantum Theories, Ruetsche argues that the occurrence of unitarily inequivalent representations in quantum theories with infinitely many degrees of freedom poses a novel interpretational problem. According to Ruetsche, such theories compel us to reject the so-called ideal of pristine interpretation; she puts forward the ‘coalescence approach’ as an alternative. In this article I offer a novel defence of the coalescence approach. T…
Absolute Velocities Are Unmeasurable
In this journal, Middleton and Murgueitio Ramírez argue that absolute velocity is measurable, contrary to the received wisdom. Specifically, they claim that ‘there exists at least one reasonable analysis of measurement according to which the speedometer in [a world called “the Basic World”] measures the absolute velocity of the car.’ In this note, I critically respond to that claim: the analysis of measurement that Middleton and Murgueitio Ramíre…
Invariance, intrinsicality and perspicuity
Invariance or equivalence
The presence of symmetries in physical theories implies a pernicious form of underdetermination. In order to avoid this theoretical vice, philosophers often espouse a principle called Leibniz Equivalence , which states that symmetry-related models represent the same state of affairs. Moreover, philosophers have claimed that the existence of non-trivial symmetries motivates us to accept the Invariance Principle , which states that quantities that …
Du Châtelet
Conflicts between Cattlemen and the Florida Panther
The Nature of a Constant of Nature
Physics presents us with a symphony of natural constants: $G$ , ħ , $c$ , and so forth. Up to this point, constants have received comparatively little philosophical attention. In this article, I provide an account of dimensionful constants, in particular the gravitational constant. I propose that they represent interquantity structure in the form of relations between quantities with different dimensions. I use this account of $G$ to settle a deba…
Invariance, intrinsicality and perspicuity
Invariance or equivalence
The presence of symmetries in physical theories implies a pernicious form of underdetermination. In order to avoid this theoretical vice, philosophers often espouse a principle called Leibniz Equivalence , which states that symmetry-related models represent the same state of affairs. Moreover, philosophers have claimed that the existence of non-trivial symmetries motivates us to accept the Invariance Principle , which states that quantities that …
The metaphysics of fibre bundles
Recently, Dewar (2019) has suggested that one can apply the strategy of 'sophistication'-as exemplified by sophisticated substantivalism as a response to the diffeomorphism invariance of General Relativity-to gauge theories such as electrodynamics. This requires a shift to the formalism of fibre bundles. In this paper, I develop and defend this suggestion. Where my approach differs from previous discussions is that I focus on the metaphysical pic…
Are Dynamic Shifts Dynamical Symmetries
Shifts are a well-known feature of the literature on spacetime symmetries. Recently, discussions have focused on so-called dynamic shifts, which by analogy with static and kinematic shifts enact arbitrary linear accelerations of all matter (as well as a change in the gravitational potential). But in mathematical formulations of these shifts, the analogy breaks down: while static and kinematic shift act on the matter field, the dynamic shift acts …
Conflicts between Cattlemen and the Florida Panther
Conflicts between Cattlemen and the Florida Panther
Du Châtelet
Invariance or equivalence
The presence of symmetries in physical theories implies a pernicious form of underdetermination. In order to avoid this theoretical vice, philosophers often espouse a principle called Leibniz Equivalence , which states that symmetry-related models represent the same state of affairs. Moreover, philosophers have claimed that the existence of non-trivial symmetries motivates us to accept the Invariance Principle , which states that quantities that …
Absolute Velocities Are Unmeasurable
In this journal, Middleton and Murgueitio Ramírez argue that absolute velocity is measurable, contrary to the received wisdom. Specifically, they claim that ‘there exists at least one reasonable analysis of measurement according to which the speedometer in [a world called “the Basic World”] measures the absolute velocity of the car.’ In this note, I critically respond to that claim: the analysis of measurement that Middleton and Murgueitio Ramíre…
Invariance, intrinsicality and perspicuity
Are models our tools not our masters
It is often claimed that one can avoid the kind of underdetermination that is a typical consequence of symmetries in physics by stipulating that symmetry-related models represent the same state of affairs (Leibniz Equivalence). But recent commentators (Dasgupta in Philos Perspect 25:115–160, 2011; Pooley in: Knox and Wilson (eds) The Routledge companion to the philosophy of physics, Routledge, Milton Park, 2021; Pooley and Read in Br J Philos Sci…
The metaphysics of fibre bundles
Recently, Dewar (2019) has suggested that one can apply the strategy of 'sophistication'-as exemplified by sophisticated substantivalism as a response to the diffeomorphism invariance of General Relativity-to gauge theories such as electrodynamics. This requires a shift to the formalism of fibre bundles. In this paper, I develop and defend this suggestion. Where my approach differs from previous discussions is that I focus on the metaphysical pic…
The Nature of a Constant of Nature
Physics presents us with a symphony of natural constants: $G$ , ħ , $c$ , and so forth. Up to this point, constants have received comparatively little philosophical attention. In this article, I provide an account of dimensionful constants, in particular the gravitational constant. I propose that they represent interquantity structure in the form of relations between quantities with different dimensions. I use this account of $G$ to settle a deba…
Are Dynamic Shifts Dynamical Symmetries
Shifts are a well-known feature of the literature on spacetime symmetries. Recently, discussions have focused on so-called dynamic shifts, which by analogy with static and kinematic shifts enact arbitrary linear accelerations of all matter (as well as a change in the gravitational potential). But in mathematical formulations of these shifts, the analogy breaks down: while static and kinematic shift act on the matter field, the dynamic shift acts …
The Coalescence Approach to Inequivalent Representation
In Interpreting Quantum Theories, Ruetsche argues that the occurrence of unitarily inequivalent representations in quantum theories with infinitely many degrees of freedom poses a novel interpretational problem. According to Ruetsche, such theories compel us to reject the so-called ideal of pristine interpretation; she puts forward the ‘coalescence approach’ as an alternative. In this article I offer a novel defence of the coalescence approach. T…
Comparativist Theories or Conspiracy Theories
Although physical theories routinely posit absolute quantities, such as absolute position or intrinsic mass, it seems that only comparative quantities such as distance and mass ratio are observable. But even if there are in fact only distances and mass ratios, the success of absolutist theories means that the world looks just as if there are absolute positions and intrinsic masses. If comparativism is nevertheless true, there is a sense in which …
Some Neglected Possibilities
The infamous Hole Argument has led philosophers to develop various versions of substantivalism, of which metric essentialism and sophisticated substantivalism are the most popular. In this journal, Trevor Teitel has recently advanced novel arguments against both positions. However, Teitel does not discuss the position of Jeremy Butterfield, which appeals to Lewisian counterpart theory in order to avoid the Hole Argument. In this note I show that …
In Defence of Dimensions
Philosophy of Knowledge and Cognition
How (Not) to Define Inertial Frames
It is nearly impossible to open a textbook on Newtonian mechanics without encountering the concept of inertial frames: the frames that are privileged by the theory’s dynamics. In this paper, I argue that extant definitions of inertial frames are unsatisfactory. I criticize two common definitions of inertial frames: law-based definitions, according to which inertial frames are simply those in which the laws are true, and structure-based definition…
Kinematical Equivalence and Cosmic Conspiracies
Philosophy (13 obras) · Epistemology (12 obras) · Physics (8 obras) · Relativity and Gravitational Theory (8 obras) · Mathematics (7 obras) · Theoretical physics (7 obras) · Quantum Mechanics and Applications (6 obras) · Computer Science (5 obras) · Philosophy and History of Science (5 obras) · Classical mechanics (4 obras)