1. A Framework for an Inferential Conception of Physical Laws
- Author
-
Otávio Bueno and Cristian Soto
- Subjects
Scheme (programming language) ,Computer science ,050905 science studies ,0603 philosophy, ethics and religion ,History and Philosophy of Science ,Extant taxon ,applied mathematics ,physical structures ,empirical generalizations ,lcsh:B1-5802 ,computer.programming_language ,Physical law ,Structure (mathematical logic) ,lcsh:Philosophy (General) ,Interpretation (philosophy) ,05 social sciences ,physical laws ,06 humanities and the arts ,mathematical structures ,Epistemology ,Philosophy ,Character (mathematics) ,lcsh:B ,060302 philosophy ,0509 other social sciences ,Mathematical structure ,Empiricism ,mapping account ,lcsh:Philosophy. Psychology. Religion ,computer - Abstract
We advance a framework for an inferential conception of physical laws, addressing the problem of the application of mathematical structures to the relevant structure of physical domains. Physical laws, we argue, express generalizations that work as rules for deriving physically informative inferences about their target systems, hence guiding us in our interaction with various domains. Our analysis of the application of mathematics to the articulation of physical laws follows a threefold scheme. First, we examine the immersion of the relevant structure of physical domains into mathematical structures. Second, we assess the inferential power of laws resulting from the mathematical formalism employed in the immersion step. And third, we provide a suitable physical interpretation for the extant mathematical structures obtained from the inferential step. We demonstrate that a deflationary, empiricist framework for an inferential conception of physical laws delivers both an understanding of the mathematical character of physical laws, and a way of responding to some of the standard philosophical riddles associated with laws. We advance a framework for an inferential conception of physical laws, addressing the problem of the application of mathematical structures to the relevant structure of physical domains. Physical laws, we argue, express generalizations that work as rules for deriving physically informative inferences about their target systems, hence guiding us in our interaction with various domains. Our analysis of the application of mathematics to the articulation of physical laws follows a threefold scheme. First, we examine the immersion of the relevant structure of physical domains into mathematical structures. Second, we assess the inferential power of laws resulting from the mathematical formalism employed in the immersion step. And third, we provide a suitable physical interpretation for the extant mathematical structures obtained from the inferential step. We demonstrate that a deflationary, empiricist framework for an inferential conception of physical laws delivers both an understanding of the mathematical character of physical laws, and a way of responding to some of the standard philosophical riddles associated with laws.
- Published
- 2019
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