Physics, inconsistency, and quasi-truth

• Published in: Synthese (Dordrecht) Vol. 191; no. 13; pp. 3041 - 3055
• Main Authors: da Costa, Newton C. A., Krause, Décio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer 01.09.2014; Springer Netherlands; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Axioms; Category theory; Education; Epistemology; Logic; Logical postulates; Mathematical logic; Mathematical models; Mathematical set theory; Mathematics; Metaphysics; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Philosophy; Philosophy of Language; Philosophy of Science; Physical theory; Physics; Quantum mechanics; Quantum physics; Quantum theory; Truth; Inconsistencies; Quasi-truth; Foundations of science

In this work, the first of a series, we study the nature of informal inconsistency in physics, focusing mainly on the foundations of quantum theory, and appealing to the concept of quasi-truth. We defend a pluralistic view of the philosophy of science, grounded on the existence of inconsistencies an...