Symmetries in Physics
Symmetries in Physics
Highlighting main issues and controversies, this book brings together current philosophical discussions of symmetry in physics to provide an introduction to the subject for physicists and philosophers. The contributors cover all the fundamental symmetries of modern physics, such as CPT and permutation symmetry, as well as discussing symmetry-breaking and general interpretational issues. Classic texts are followed by new review articles and shorter commentaries for each topic. Suitable for courses on the foundations of physics, philosophy of physics and philosophy of science, the volume is a valuable reference for students and researchers.
- Written by leading researchers in the field
- Addresses important issues in physics, from a philosophical point of view
- Covers more recent research as well as classic ideas
Reviews & endorsements
"Will be useful not only as a reference work for researchers, but also as a valuable resource for a graduate couse in the foundation and philosophy of modern physics." Contemporary Physics, P. Mainwood
Product details
December 2004Adobe eBook Reader
9780511055546
0 pages
0kg
This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Copyright acknowledgements
- List of contributors
- 1. Introduction
- Part I. Continuous Symmetries:
- 2. Classic texts: extracts from Weyl and Wigner
- 3. Review paper: On the significance of continuous symmetry to the foundations of physics C. Martin
- 4. The philosophical roots of the gauge principle: Weyl and transcendental phenomenological idealism T. Ryckman
- 5. Symmetries and Noether's theorems K. A. Brading and H. R. Brown
- 6. General covariance, gauge theories, and the Kretschmann objection J. Norton
- 7. The interpretation of gauge symmetry M. Redhead
- 8. Tracking down gauge: an ode to the constrained Hamiltonian formalism J. Earman
- 9. Time-dependent symmetries: the link between gauge symmetries and indeterminism D. Wallace
- 10. A fourth way to the Aharanov-Bohm effect A. Nounou
- Part II. Discrete Symmetries:
- 11. Classic texts: extracts from Lebniz, Kant and Black
- 12. Review paper: Understanding permutation symmetry S. French and D. Rickles
- 13. Quarticles and the identity of discernibles N. Hugget
- 14. Review paper: Handedness, parity violation, and the reality of space O. Pooley
- 15. Mirror symmetry: what is it for a relational space to be orientable? N. Huggett
- 16. Physics and Leibniz's principles S. Saunders
- Part III. Symmetry Breaking:
- 17: Classic texts: extracts from Curie and Weyl
- 18. Extract from G. Jona-Lasinio: Cross-fertilization in theoretical physics: the case of condensed matter and particle physics G. Jona-Lasinio
- 19. Review paper: On the meaning of symmetry breaking E. Castellani
- 20. Rough guide to spontaneous symmetry breaking J. Earman
- 21. Spontaneous symmetry breaking: theoretical arguments and philosophical problems M. Morrison
- Part IV. General Interpretative Issues:
- 22. Classic texts: extracts from Wigner
- 23. Symmetry as a guide to superfluous theoretical structure J. Ismael and B. van Fraassen
- 24. Notes on symmetries G. Belot
- 25. Symmetry, objectivity, and design P. Kosso
- 26. Symmetry and equivalence E. Castellani.
