Thomas William Barrett
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 969390 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Thomas William Barrett |
| PRENOMES | Thomas William |
| SOBRENOME | Barrett |
| ASSINATURA | BARRETT T W |
| AFILIAÇÕES | University of California, Santa Barbara |
| VERIFICADO | Não |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 15 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 56 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 15 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2015 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 4 |
On Privileged Coordinates and Kleinian Methods
This paper examines two ways in which the ‘privileged coordinates’ of a geometric space might have significance. First, the structure of the space might be ‘determined by its privileged coordinates’. Second, the space might be presentable using ‘Kleinian methods’. We examine the geometric spaces for which these two conditions hold. Along the way, we investigate the relationship between these two conditions
What Do Privileged Coordinates Tell Us about Structure
We examine whether the “privileged coordinates” of a geometric space encode its “amount of structure.” In doing so, we compare this coordinate approach to comparing amounts of structure to the more familiar automorphism approach. We first show that on a natural understanding of the former, it faces one of the same well-known problems as the latter. We then capture a precise sense in which the two approaches are closely related to one another, and…
On Putnam’s Proof of the Impossibility of a Nominalistic Physics
On automorphism criteria for comparing amounts of mathematical structure
Wilhelm (Forthcom Synth 199:6357–6369, 2021) has recently defended a criterion for comparing structure of mathematical objects, which he calls Subgroup. He argues that Subgroup is better than SYM $$^*$$ ∗ , another widely adopted criterion. We argue that this is mistaken; Subgroup is strictly worse than SYM $$^*$$ ∗ . We then formulate a new criterion that improves on both SYM $$^*$$ ∗ and Subgroup, answering Wilhelm’s criticisms of SYM $$^*$$ ∗ …
How to count structure
There is sometimes a sense in which one theory posits ‘less structure’ than another. Philosophers of science have recently appealed to this idea both in the debate about equivalence of theories and in discussions about structural parsimony. But there are a number of different proposals currently on the table for how to compare the ‘amount of structure’ that different theories posit. The aim of this paper is to compare these proposals against one …
Coordinates, Structure, and Classical Mechanics
This is an essay review of Jill North’s book Physics, Structure, and Reality . It focuses on two of the main topics of the book. The first is North’s idea that we can use coordinates as a window into the structure that a theory posits; the second is North’s argument for the inequivalence of Lagrangian and Newtonian mechanics
Mutual translatability, equivalence, and the structure of theories
The curvature argument
Dasgupta (2015) has recently put forward a novel argument, which he calls the 'curvature argument', that aims to show that Galilean spacetime is not an ideal setting for our classical theory of motion. This paper examines the curvature argument and argues that it is not sound. The discussion yields a remark about the conditions under which a 'symmetry argument' demonstrates that a particular spacetime is a non-ideal setting for our theory of moti…
Structure and Equivalence
It has been suggested that we can tell whether two theories are equivalent by comparing the structure that they ascribe to the world. If two theories posit different structures, then they must be inequivalent. The aim of this article is to evaluate the extent to which this desideratum holds for the different standards of equivalence that are currently on the table
Equivalent and Inequivalent Formulations of Classical Mechanics
In this article, I examine whether or not the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations of classical mechanics are equivalent theories. I do so by applying a standard for equivalence that was recently introduced into philosophy of science by Halvorson ([2012], [2012]) and Weatherall ([2016a]). This case study yields three general philosophical payoffs. The first concerns what a theory is, while the second and third concern how we should interpret w…
What Do Symmetries Tell Us about Structure
Mathematicians, physicists, and philosophers of physics often look to the symmetries of an object for insight into the structure and constitution of the object. My aim in this article is to explain why this practice is successful. In order to do so, I present a collection of results that are closely related to (and, in a sense, generalizations of) Beth’s and Svenonius’s theorems
Quine’s conjecture on many-sorted logic
On Einstein algebras and relativistic spacetimes
Spacetime structure
On the Structure of Classical Mechanics
The standard view is that the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics are theoretically equivalent. Jill North ([2009]), however, argues that they are not. In particular, she argues that the state-space of Hamiltonian mechanics has less structure than the state-space of Lagrangian mechanics. I will isolate two arguments that North puts forward for this conclusion and argue that neither yet succeeds. 1 Introduction2 Hamilton…
On the Structure of Classical Mechanics
The standard view is that the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics are theoretically equivalent. Jill North ([2009]), however, argues that they are not. In particular, she argues that the state-space of Hamiltonian mechanics has less structure than the state-space of Lagrangian mechanics. I will isolate two arguments that North puts forward for this conclusion and argue that neither yet succeeds. 1 Introduction2 Hamilton…
Equivalent and Inequivalent Formulations of Classical Mechanics
In this article, I examine whether or not the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations of classical mechanics are equivalent theories. I do so by applying a standard for equivalence that was recently introduced into philosophy of science by Halvorson ([2012], [2012]) and Weatherall ([2016a]). This case study yields three general philosophical payoffs. The first concerns what a theory is, while the second and third concern how we should interpret w…
What Do Symmetries Tell Us about Structure
Mathematicians, physicists, and philosophers of physics often look to the symmetries of an object for insight into the structure and constitution of the object. My aim in this article is to explain why this practice is successful. In order to do so, I present a collection of results that are closely related to (and, in a sense, generalizations of) Beth’s and Svenonius’s theorems
Quine’s conjecture on many-sorted logic
Mutual translatability, equivalence, and the structure of theories
Structure and Equivalence
It has been suggested that we can tell whether two theories are equivalent by comparing the structure that they ascribe to the world. If two theories posit different structures, then they must be inequivalent. The aim of this article is to evaluate the extent to which this desideratum holds for the different standards of equivalence that are currently on the table
On automorphism criteria for comparing amounts of mathematical structure
Wilhelm (Forthcom Synth 199:6357–6369, 2021) has recently defended a criterion for comparing structure of mathematical objects, which he calls Subgroup. He argues that Subgroup is better than SYM $$^*$$ ∗ , another widely adopted criterion. We argue that this is mistaken; Subgroup is strictly worse than SYM $$^*$$ ∗ . We then formulate a new criterion that improves on both SYM $$^*$$ ∗ and Subgroup, answering Wilhelm’s criticisms of SYM $$^*$$ ∗ …
On Einstein algebras and relativistic spacetimes
Spacetime structure
On the Structure of Classical Mechanics
The standard view is that the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formulations of classical mechanics are theoretically equivalent. Jill North ([2009]), however, argues that they are not. In particular, she argues that the state-space of Hamiltonian mechanics has less structure than the state-space of Lagrangian mechanics. I will isolate two arguments that North puts forward for this conclusion and argue that neither yet succeeds. 1 Introduction2 Hamilton…
Quine’s conjecture on many-sorted logic
What Do Symmetries Tell Us about Structure
Mathematicians, physicists, and philosophers of physics often look to the symmetries of an object for insight into the structure and constitution of the object. My aim in this article is to explain why this practice is successful. In order to do so, I present a collection of results that are closely related to (and, in a sense, generalizations of) Beth’s and Svenonius’s theorems
Equivalent and Inequivalent Formulations of Classical Mechanics
In this article, I examine whether or not the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations of classical mechanics are equivalent theories. I do so by applying a standard for equivalence that was recently introduced into philosophy of science by Halvorson ([2012], [2012]) and Weatherall ([2016a]). This case study yields three general philosophical payoffs. The first concerns what a theory is, while the second and third concern how we should interpret w…
Structure and Equivalence
It has been suggested that we can tell whether two theories are equivalent by comparing the structure that they ascribe to the world. If two theories posit different structures, then they must be inequivalent. The aim of this article is to evaluate the extent to which this desideratum holds for the different standards of equivalence that are currently on the table
The curvature argument
Dasgupta (2015) has recently put forward a novel argument, which he calls the 'curvature argument', that aims to show that Galilean spacetime is not an ideal setting for our classical theory of motion. This paper examines the curvature argument and argues that it is not sound. The discussion yields a remark about the conditions under which a 'symmetry argument' demonstrates that a particular spacetime is a non-ideal setting for our theory of moti…
How to count structure
There is sometimes a sense in which one theory posits ‘less structure’ than another. Philosophers of science have recently appealed to this idea both in the debate about equivalence of theories and in discussions about structural parsimony. But there are a number of different proposals currently on the table for how to compare the ‘amount of structure’ that different theories posit. The aim of this paper is to compare these proposals against one …
Coordinates, Structure, and Classical Mechanics
This is an essay review of Jill North’s book Physics, Structure, and Reality . It focuses on two of the main topics of the book. The first is North’s idea that we can use coordinates as a window into the structure that a theory posits; the second is North’s argument for the inequivalence of Lagrangian and Newtonian mechanics
Mutual translatability, equivalence, and the structure of theories
On Putnam’s Proof of the Impossibility of a Nominalistic Physics
On automorphism criteria for comparing amounts of mathematical structure
Wilhelm (Forthcom Synth 199:6357–6369, 2021) has recently defended a criterion for comparing structure of mathematical objects, which he calls Subgroup. He argues that Subgroup is better than SYM $$^*$$ ∗ , another widely adopted criterion. We argue that this is mistaken; Subgroup is strictly worse than SYM $$^*$$ ∗ . We then formulate a new criterion that improves on both SYM $$^*$$ ∗ and Subgroup, answering Wilhelm’s criticisms of SYM $$^*$$ ∗ …
What Do Privileged Coordinates Tell Us about Structure
We examine whether the “privileged coordinates” of a geometric space encode its “amount of structure.” In doing so, we compare this coordinate approach to comparing amounts of structure to the more familiar automorphism approach. We first show that on a natural understanding of the former, it faces one of the same well-known problems as the latter. We then capture a precise sense in which the two approaches are closely related to one another, and…
On Privileged Coordinates and Kleinian Methods
This paper examines two ways in which the ‘privileged coordinates’ of a geometric space might have significance. First, the structure of the space might be ‘determined by its privileged coordinates’. Second, the space might be presentable using ‘Kleinian methods’. We examine the geometric spaces for which these two conditions hold. Along the way, we investigate the relationship between these two conditions
Mathematics (12 obras) · Epistemology (10 obras) · Philosophy (10 obras) · Computer Science (8 obras) · Philosophy and History of Science (8 obras) · Physics (8 obras) · Pure mathematics (8 obras) · History and Theory of Mathematics (7 obras) · Relativity and Gravitational Theory (7 obras) · Theoretical physics (6 obras)