Symmetries in Physics
Philosophical Reflections

This book brings together philosophical discussions of symmetry in physics, highlighting the main issues and controversies.

Katherine Brading (Edited by), Elena Castellani (Edited by)

9780521821377, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 4 December 2003

458 pages
24.4 x 17 x 2.5 cm, 0.93 kg

Review of the hardback: 'I can warmly recommend this excellent collection for which the editors have assembled an impressive all-star crew of contributors. Congratulations for a job well done!' Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

Symmetry considerations dominate modern fundamental physics, both in quantum theory and in relativity. This book presents a collection of philosophy-on-physics papers, highlighting the main issues and controversies, and providing an entry into the subject for both physicists and philosophers. It covers topical issues such as the significance of gauge symmetry, particle identity in quantum theory, how to make sense of parity violation, the role of symmetry-breaking, the empirical status of symmetry principles, and so forth, along with more traditional problems in the philosophy of science. These include the status of the laws of nature, the relationships between mathematics, physical theory, and the world, and the extent to which mathematics dictates physics. A valuable reference for students and researchers, it will also be of interest to those studying the foundations of physics, philosophy of physics and philosophy of science.

Preface
Copyright acknowledgements
List of contributors
1. Introduction
Part I. Continuous Symmetries: 2. Classic texts: extracts from Weyl and Wigner
3. Review paper: On the significance of continuous symmetry to the foundations of physics C. Martin
4. The philosophical roots of the gauge principle: Weyl and transcendental phenomenological idealism T. Ryckman
5. Symmetries and Noether's theorems K. A. Brading and H. R. Brown
6. General covariance, gauge theories, and the Kretschmann objection J. Norton
7. The interpretation of gauge symmetry M. Redhead
8. Tracking down gauge: an ode to the constrained Hamiltonian formalism J. Earman
9. Time-dependent symmetries: the link between gauge symmetries and indeterminism D. Wallace
10. A fourth way to the Aharanov-Bohm effect A. Nounou
Part II. Discrete Symmetries: 11. Classic texts: extracts from Lebniz, Kant and Black
12. Review paper: Understanding permutation symmetry S. French and D. Rickles
13. Quarticles and the identity of discernibles N. Hugget
14. Review paper: Handedness, parity violation, and the reality of space O. Pooley
15. Mirror symmetry: what is it for a relational space to be orientable? N. Huggett
16. Physics and Leibniz's principles S. Saunders
Part III. Symmetry Breaking: 17: Classic texts: extracts from Curie and Weyl
18. Extract from G. Jona-Lasinio: Cross-fertilization in theoretical physics: the case of condensed matter and particle physics G. Jona-Lasinio
19. Review paper: On the meaning of symmetry breaking E. Castellani
20. Rough guide to spontaneous symmetry breaking J. Earman
21. Spontaneous symmetry breaking: theoretical arguments and philosophical problems M. Morrison
Part IV. General Interpretative Issues: 22. Classic texts: extracts from Wigner
23. Symmetry as a guide to superfluous theoretical structure J. Ismael and B. van Fraassen
24. Notes on symmetries G. Belot
25. Symmetry, objectivity, and design P. Kosso
26. Symmetry and equivalence E. Castellani.

Subject Areas: Relativity physics [PHR], Quantum physics [quantum mechanics & quantum field theory PHQ], History of science [PDX], Philosophy of science [PDA]