Probabilities, Causes and Propensities in Physics
Published on 16. December 2010
Book
Hardback
X, 266 pages
978-1-4020-9903-8 (ISBN)
Description
This volume defends a novel approach to the philosophy of physics: it is the first book devoted to a comparative study of probability, causality, and propensity, and their various interrelations, within the context of contemporary physics -- particularly quantum and statistical physics. The philosophical debates and distinctions are firmly grounded upon examples from actual physics, thus exemplifying a robustly empiricist approach. The essays, by both prominent scholars in the field and promising young researchers, constitute a pioneer effort in bringing out the connections between probabilistic, causal and dispositional aspects of the quantum domain.
The book will appeal to specialists in philosophy and foundations of physics, philosophy of science in general, metaphysics, ontology of physics theories, and philosophy of probability.
Reviews / Votes
From the reviews:
"This book discuss in a detailed and technical, but accessible and clarifying way, the notions that connect physics with philosophical analyses of causation, probability and propensities. . The chapters are well written and define the relevant concepts in a clear way, which allows one to follow the discussions with ease. . discuss the most recent accounts of causality, propensity and probability and add new and important insights to the discussion. . recommended to philosophers of physics and physicists interested in the foundations of their discipline." (Esteban Céspedes, Physics and Philosophy, November, 2011)More details
Series
Edition
2011 ed.
Language
English
Place of publication
Dordrecht
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Research
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
X, 266 p.
Dimensions
Height: 242 mm
Width: 164 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
552 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4020-9903-8 (9781402099038)
DOI
10.1007/978-1-4020-9904-5
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Mauricio Suárez
Probabilities, Causes and Propensities in Physics
Book
01/2013
Springer
€106.99
Shipment within 15-20 days
Mauricio Suárez
Probabilities, Causes and Propensities in Physics
E-Book
12/2010
1st Edition
Springer
€96.29
Available for download
Person
Mauricio Suárez is a philosopher of science specialising in philosophy of physics. He has published widely in the philosophy of quantum mechanics, modelling and representation, and scientific epistemology in journals such as Erkenntnis, Studies in History and Philosohy of Modern Physics, Foundations of Physics, Philosophy of Science, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, History of the Human Sciences. He is the editor of Fictions in Science: Philosophical Essays on Modelling and Idealisation (London: Routledge, 2009) and co-editor of the Proceedings of the founding conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association (EPSA), which he organised in Madrid in 2007.
Content
Preface.- 1. Introduction; Mauricio Suárez.- PART I: PROBABILITIES.- 2. Probability and time symmetry in classical Markov processes; Guido Bacciagaluppi.- 3. Probability assignments and the principle of indifference: An examination of two eliminative strategies; Sorin Bangu.- 4. Why typicality does not explain the approach to equilibrium; Roman Frigg; PART II: CAUSES.- 5. From metaphysics to physics and back: The example of causation; Federico Laudisa.- 6. On explanation in retro-causal interpretations of quantum mechanics; Joseph Berkovitz.- 7. Causal completeness in general probability theories; Balasz Gyenis, Miklós Rédei.- 8. Causal Markov, robustness and the quantum correlations; Mauricio Suárez, Iñaki San Pedro.- PART III: PROPENSITIES.- 9. Do dispositions and propensities have a role in the ontology of quantum mechanics? Some critical remarks; Mauro Dorato.- 10. Is the quantum world composed of propensitons?; Nicholas Maxwell.- 11. Derivative dispositions and multiple derivative levels; Ian Thompson.