Interpreting Physics Language and the Classical/Quantum Divide
This book is the first to offer a systematic account of the role of language in the development and interpretation of physics. An historical-conceptual analysis of the co-evolution of mathematical and physical concepts leads ti the classical/quatum interf
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BOSTON STUDIES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Editors ROBERT S. COHEN, Boston University JÜRGEN RENN, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science KOSTAS GAVROGLU, University of Athens
Managing Editor LINDY DIVARCI, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science
Editorial Board THEODORE ARABATZIS, University of Athens ALISA BOKULICH, Boston University HEATHER E. DOUGLAS, University of Pittsburgh JEAN GAYON, Université Paris 1 THOMAS F. GLICK, Boston University HUBERT GOENNER, University of Goettingen JOHN HEILBRON, University of California, Berkeley DIANA KORMOS-BUCHWALD, California Institute of Technology CHRISTOPH LEHNER, Max Planck Institute for the History of Science PETER MC LAUGHLIN, Universität Heidelberg AGUSTÍ NIETO-GALAN, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona NUCCIO ORDINE, Universitá della Calabria ANA SIMÕES, Universidade de Lisboa JOHN J. STACHEL, Boston University SYLVAN S. SCHWEBER, Harvard University BAICHUN ZHANG, Chinese Academy of Science
VOLUME 289 For further volumes: http://www.springer.com/series/5710
INTERPRETING PHYSICS Language and the Classical/Quantum Divide
by
EDWARD MACKINNON California State University East Bay, CA, USA
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Edward MacKinnon California State University East Bay Manzanita Drive 2045 94611 Oakland USA [email protected]
ISSN 0068-0346 ISBN 978-94-007-2368-9 e-ISBN 978-94-007-2369-6 DOI 10.1007/978-94-007-2369-6 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2011939573 c Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012 No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
To the memory of Norwood Russell Hanson
Preface
It will be misjudged because it is misunderstood, and misunderstood because men choose to skim through the book and not to think through it, a disagreeable task, because the work is dry, obscure, opposed to all ordinary notions, and moreover long-winded. Immanuel Kant, Prolegomea
This is a book about the role of language in physics, and especially about its role in the interpretation of quantum mechanics. Yet, it is utterly unlike any other book written on the interpretation of quantum mechanics. This introduction gives a preliminary account of the reasons for the novel approach. There are different philosophical approaches to the interpretation of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. Most share a common feature. Interpretation is essentially a matter of specifying the physical significance of mathematically formulated theories, or of models that relate to theories. The language in which these are expressed is not a critical factor and is not included in
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