Jul 16, 2018
Invariance Essentialism
- 14:00 to 16:00
- Seminar
- Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory
- David Schroeren (Princeton University)
One of the striking features of fundamental physics is that certain important properties of elementary particle systems are defined as invariants under specific groups of symmetry transformations of these systems. For example, rest mass and relativistic spin are said to be defined as invariants under the Poincaré group of relativistic boosts, translations, and rotations. The goal of this paper is to provide a metaphysically perspicuous account of this sort of definition, and to evaluate the extent to which the resulting definitions satisfy broadly structuralist desiderata.
Contact and Registration
No registration necessary; if you need further information, please contact Kseniia Mohelsky.
About This Series
The seminar series of the Research Group “Historical Epistemology of the Final Theory Program” runs once a month, usually on a Monday at 14:30 in the seminar room of the Villa (Harnackstraße 5). The talks deal primarily with the history, philosophy, and foundations of modern (post-WWII) physics or with wider epistemological questions related to the work of the group. There are no pre-circulated papers.