Quantum Field Theory: Underdetermination, Inconsistency, and Idealization

Quantum field theory (QFT) presents a genuine example of the underdetermination of theory by empirical evidence. There are variants of QFT—for example, the standard textbook formulation and the rigorous axiomatic formulation—that are empirically indistinguishable yet support different interpretation...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inPhilosophy of science Vol. 76; no. 4; pp. 536 - 567
Main Author Fraser, Doreen
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge The University of Chicago Press 01.10.2009
Cambridge University Press
Subjects
Algebra
Axioms
Degrees of freedom
Idealization
Lagrangian function
Mathematical theorems
Philosophy of science
Physics
Quantum field theory
Quantum mechanics
Research methods
S matrix theory
Statistical methods
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Quantum field theory (QFT) presents a genuine example of the underdetermination of theory by empirical evidence. There are variants of QFT—for example, the standard textbook formulation and the rigorous axiomatic formulation—that are empirically indistinguishable yet support different interpretations. This case is of particular interest to philosophers of physics because, before the philosophical work of interpreting QFT can proceed, the question of which variant should be subject to interpretation must be settled. New arguments are offered for basing the interpretation of QFT on a rigorous axiomatic variant of the theory. The pivotal considerations are the roles that consistency and idealization play in this case.
Bibliography:SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-1
content type line 14
ObjectType-Article-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0031-8248
1539-767X
DOI:10.1086/649999