Philosophy of Physical Magnitudes

Would the world be any different if we doubled all the masses, or all the lengths, or all the charges?

Niels C. M. Martens (Author)

9781009467827, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 April 2024

58 pages
23.5 x 15.9 x 0.9 cm, 0.23 kg

Dimensional quantities such as length, mass and charge, i.e., numbers combined with a conventional unit, are essential components of theories in the sciences, especially physics, chemistry and biology. Do they represent a world with absolute physical magnitudes, or are they merely magnitude ratios in disguise? Would we notice a difference if all the distances or charges in the world suddenly doubled? These central questions of this Element are illustrated by imagining how one would convey the meaning of a kilogram to aliens if one were only allowed to communicate via Morse code.

1. Introduction
2. Arguments
3. Decision point: physical magnitudes
4. Decision point: physical magnitudes
5. Decision point: other initial determinables
6. Decision point: laws & constants of nature
7. Decision point: non-dynamical considerations
8. Overview
References.

Subject Areas: Philosophy of science [PDA]