Combining Philosophers

All the ideas for H.Putnam/P.Oppenheim, Geoffrey Gorham and Jim Baggott

expand these ideas     |    start again     |     specify just one area for these philosophers


17 ideas

14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 6. Falsification
Why abandon a theory if you don't have a better one? [Gorham]
If a theory is more informative it is less probable [Gorham]
14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 1. Scientific Theory
Is Newton simpler with universal simultaneity, or Einstein simpler without absolute time? [Gorham]
Structural Realism says mathematical structures persist after theory rejection [Gorham]
Structural Realists must show the mathematics is both crucial and separate [Gorham]
14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 3. Instrumentalism
Theories aren't just for organising present experience if they concern the past or future [Gorham]
For most scientists their concepts are not just useful, but are meant to be true and accurate [Gorham]
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / d. Consilience
Consilience makes the component sciences more likely [Gorham]
14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / j. Explanations by reduction
Six reduction levels: groups, lives, cells, molecules, atoms, particles [Putnam/Oppenheim, by Watson]
26. Natural Theory / A. Speculations on Nature / 1. Nature
Aristotelian physics has circular celestial motion and linear earthly motion [Gorham]
27. Natural Reality / A. Classical Physics / 2. Thermodynamics / a. Energy
Planck introduced the idea that energy can be quantized [Baggott]
27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 2. Electrodynamics / b. Fields
Fields can be 'scalar', or 'vector', or 'tensor', or 'spinor' [Baggott]
A 'field' is a property with a magnitude, distributed across all of space and time [Baggott]
27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 2. Electrodynamics / c. Electrons
Free electrons have clouds of virtual particles, arising from field interaction [Baggott]
27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 4. Standard Model / a. Concept of matter
Thermodynamics sees nature as a continuous flow of energy, as radiation and as substance [Baggott]
27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 4. Standard Model / b. Standard model
The current standard model requires 61 particles [Baggott]
27. Natural Reality / B. Modern Physics / 4. Standard Model / c. Particle properties
Particle measurements don't seem to reflect their reality [Baggott]