List, Christian ORCID: 0000-0003-1627-800X (2019) Dynamic and stochastic systems as a framework for metaphysics and the philosophy of science. Synthese. ISSN 0039-7857
Text (Dynamic and stochastic systems)
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Abstract
Scientists often think of the world (or some part of it) as a dynamical system, a stochastic process, or a generalization of such a system. Prominent examples of systems are (i) the system of planets orbiting the sun or any other classical mechanical system, (ii) a hydrogen atom or any other quantum–mechanical system, and (iii) the earth’s atmosphere or any other statistical mechanical system. We introduce a general and unified framework for describing such systems and show how it can be used to examine some familiar philosophical questions, including the following: how can we define nomological possibility, necessity, determinism, and indeterminism; what are symmetries and laws; what regularities must a system display to make scientific inference possible; how might principles of parsimony such as Occam’s Razor help when we make such inferences; what is the role of space and time in a system; and might they be emergent features? Our framework is intended to serve as a toolbox for the formal analysis of systems that is applicable in several areas of philosophy.
Item Type: | Article |
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Additional Information: | © 2019 The Author |
Divisions: | Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method |
Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) |
Date Deposited: | 01 May 2019 08:12 |
Last Modified: | 06 Dec 2024 08:21 |
URI: | http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/100542 |
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