Symmetries in Physics: Philosophical Reflections

by Edited by Katherine Brading , Elena Castellani

• ISBN13: 9780521528894
• ISBN10: 0521528895
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-01-14
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

Symmetry considerations dominate modern fundamental physics, both in quantum theory and in relativity. This book brings together current philosophical discussions of symmetry in physics, highlighting the main issues and controversies, and providing an entry into the subject for both physicists and philosophers. It covers topical issues such as the significance of gauge symmetry, particle identity in quantum theory, how to make sense of parity violation, the role of symmetry-breaking, the empirical status of symmetry principles, and so forth, along with more traditional problems in the philosophy of science. These include the status of the laws of nature, the relationships between mathematics, physical theory, and the world, and the extent to which mathematics dictates physics. A valuable reference for students and researchers, it will also be of interest to those studying the foundations of physics, philosophy of physics and philosophy of science.

Table of Contents

Preface

Copyright acknowledgements

List of contributors

Introduction

Continuous Symmetries

Classic texts: extracts from Weyl and Wigner

Review paper: On the significance of continuous symmetry to the foundations of physics

The philosophical roots of the gauge principle: Weyl and transcendental phenomenological idealism

Symmetries and Noether's theorems

General covariance, gauge theories, and the Kretschmann objection

The interpretation of gauge symmetry

Tracking down gauge: an ode to the constrained Hamiltonian formalism

Time-dependent symmetries: the link between gauge symmetries and indeterminism

A fourth way to the Aharanov-Bohm effect

Discrete Symmetries

Classic texts: extracts from Lebniz, Kant and Black

Review paper: Understanding permutation symmetry

Quarticles and the identity of discernibles

Review paper: Handedness, parity violation, and the reality of space

Mirror symmetry: what is it for a relational space to be orientable?

Physics and Leibniz's principles

Symmetry Breaking

Classic texts: extracts from Curie and Weyl

Extract from G. Jona-Lasinio: Cross-fertilization in theoretical physics: The case of condensed matter and particle physics

Review paper: On the meaning of symmetry breaking

Rough guide to spontaneous symmetry breaking

Spontaneous symmetry breaking: theoretical arguments and philosophical problems

General Interpretative Issues

Classic texts: extracts from Wigner

Symmetry as a guide to superfluous theoretical structure

Notes on symmetries

Symmetry, objectivity, and design

Symmetry and equivalence

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