The philosophy of physics deals with conceptual and interpretational issues in physics, many of which overlap with research done by certain kinds of theoretical physicists. Historically, philosophers of physics have engaged with questions such as the nature of space, time, matter and the laws that govern their interactions, as well as the epistemological and ontological basis of the theories used by practicing physicists, drawing on metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of science while engaging with the latest developments in theoretical and experimental physics. Contemporary work focuses on the foundations of quantum mechanics (interpretations of quantum states, the measurement problem and the role of observers), relativity (the nature of spacetime, simultaneity, causality and determinism) and statistical mechanics (the relationship between microscopic and macroscopic description, the interpretation of probability and the origin of irreversibility), along with the nature of physical laws and symmetries and the philosophical implications of emerging fields such as quantum gravity and quantum information.
Facts
Central QuestionSourced to the subject's own accountWhat do the interpretations of quantum mechanics, relativity and statistical mechanics reveal about the true nature of space, time, matter and physical reality? 1 Key DebateSourced to the subject's own accountWhether probabilities in statistical mechanics are epistemic, reflecting human ignorance of a system's precise microstate, or ontic, an objective feature of the physical world itself. 1 Key DebateSourced to the subject's own accountWhether the wave function collapses on measurement, the Copenhagen interpretation associated with Bohr and Heisenberg, or whether it never collapses at all, the many-worlds interpretation Hugh Everett proposed, reading every superposition as describing many equally real branching worlds instead. 1 Connections
Associated With
Source Philosophy of Physics (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Philosophy of Physics (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
the philosophy of physics deals with conceptual and interpretational issues in physics, many of which overlap with research done by certain kinds of theoretical physicists.
Philosophy of thermal and statistical physics section
Another key issue is the interpretation of probability in statistical mechanics, which is primarily concerned with the question of whether probabilities in statistical mechanics are epistemic, reflecting our lack of knowledge about the precise microstate of a system, or ontic, representing an objective feature of the physical world.
Interpretations of quantum mechanics section, on Everett many-worlds
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics by Hugh Everett III claims that the wave-function of a quantum system is telling us claims about the reality of that physical system. It denies wavefunction collapse, and claims that superposition states should be interpreted literally as describing the reality of many-worlds where objects are located, and not simply indicating the indeterminacy of those variables.
View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.