Part 1
Theoretical equivalence in physics
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4079128 |
|---|---|
| Authors | James Owen Weatherall (0000-0003-1461-7821, University of California, Irvine, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2019 |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue | 5 |
| Publication date | 2019-05-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Philosophy Compass (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1747-9991 • E-ISSN: 1747-9991 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/phc3.12592 |
| OpenAlex | W2956038895 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 11 |
| References cited | 39 |
I review the philosophical literature on the question of when two physical theories are equivalent. This includes a discussion of empirical equivalence, which is often taken to be necessary, and sometimes taken to be sufficient, for theoretical equivalence; and "interpretational" equivalence, which is the idea that two theories are equivalent just in case they have the same interpretation. It also includes a discussion of several formal notions of equivalence that have been considered in the recent philosophical literature, including (generalized) definitional equivalence and categorical equivalence. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the relationship between equivalence and duality. The article is in two parts; this is Part 1, which addresses empirical equivalence and definitional equivalence
Categorical variable · Dynamic and formal equivalence · Epistemology · Linguistics · Logical equivalence · Mathematical economics · Pure mathematics · Computer Science · Mathematics · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Philosophy and Theoretical Science · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Artificial Intelligence
Equivalent Theories and Ontological Commitment
Quantization and the Preservation of Structure across Theory Change
On Logical and Scientific Strength
On Putnam’s Proof of the Impossibility of a Nominalistic Physics
On Perspicuous Representation in Physics
An invitation to conventionalism
The structuralist approach to underdetermination
The cost of closure
Mutual translatability, equivalence, and the structure of theories
The Representational Role of Sophisticated Theories
The epistemology of spacetime
The Tools of Metaphysics and the Metaphysics of Science
Topics in the Foundations of General Relativity and Newtonian Gravitation Theory
Experience and prediction
How to Define Theoretical Terms
On empirically equivalent systems of the world
Psychophysical and theoretical identifications
The equivalence myth of quantum mechanics—part II
The equivalence myth of quantum mechanics —Part I
Dualities of fields and strings
A philosopher looks at string dualities
An Epistemic Account Of Metaphysical Equivalence1
Ramsey sentences, structural realism and trivial realization
One or Two Gentle Remarks about Hans Halvorson’s Critique of the Semantic View
Are Our Best Physical Theories (Probably and/or Approximately) True
Concepts, Theories, and the Mind-Body Problem
The Non-equivalence of Einstein and Lorentz
Empirical Adequacy and Ramsification
Ramseyfication and Theoretical Content
Equivalent and Inequivalent Formulations of Classical Mechanics
Duality and ontology
| Citations per year | 2.2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2026 (6) |
| Highly cited | No |