35 found
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  1. The renormalisation group and effective field theories.Nick Huggett & Robert Weingard - 1995 - Synthese 102 (1):171 - 194.
    Much apprehension has been expressed by philosophers about the method of renormalisation in quantum field theory, as it apparently requires illegitimate procedure of infinite cancellation. This has lead to various speculations, in particular in Teller (1989). We examine Teller's discussion of perturbative renormalisation of quantum fields, and show why it is inadequate. To really approach the matter one needs to understand the ideas and results of the renormalisation group, so we give a simple but comprehensive account of this topic. With (...)
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  2. Relativity and the reality of past and future events.Robert Weingard - 1972 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 23 (2):119-121.
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  3.  63
    Are bridge laws really necessary?Tryg A. Ager, Jerrold L. Aronson & Robert Weingard - 1974 - Noûs 8 (2):119-134.
  4.  67
    A Philosopher Looks at String Theory.Robert Weingard - 1988 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1988:95 - 106.
    In this paper I first describe some simple, but interesting string theory. Then I discuss string field theory and suggest that even though we do not have a complete mathematical formulation, we can get an idea of some of its ontological implications. Next, the significance of supersymmetry and superspace in string theory is briefly considered. Lastly, I consider the question of whether there is, in fact, (good) reason to think string theory may (or will) emerge to replace quantum field theory.
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  5. Interpretations of quantum field theory.Nick Huggett & Robert Weingard - 1994 - Philosophy of Science 61 (3):370-388.
    In this paper we critically review the various attempts that have been made to understand quantum field theory. We focus on Teller's (1990) harmonic oscillator interpretation, and Bohm et al.'s (1987) causal interpretation. The former unabashedly aims to be a purely heuristic account, but we show that it is only interestingly applicable to the free bosonic field. Along the way we suggest alternative models. Bohm's interpretation provides an ontology for the theory--a classical field, with a quantum equation of motion. This (...)
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  6. Space-time and the direction of time.Robert Weingard - 1977 - Noûs 11 (2):119-131.
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  7.  39
    Critical review: Paul Teller's interpretive introduction to quantum field theory.Nick Huggett & Robert Weingard - 1996 - Philosophy of Science 63 (2):302.
    Paul Teller's new book, “An Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory”, is a pioneering work. To the best of our knowledge it is the first book by a philosopher devoted not only to explaining what quantum field theory is, but to clarifying the conceptual issues and puzzles to which the theory gives rise. As such it is an important book, which we hope will greatly stimulate work in the area as other philosophers and physicists react to it.
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  8.  76
    On the ontological status of the metric in general relativity.Robert Weingard - 1975 - Journal of Philosophy 72 (14):426-431.
  9.  73
    Trouble in Paradise?Robert Weingard - 1997 - The Monist 80 (1):24-43.
    Throughout its history, Bohm's interpretation of quantum mechanics has been systematically misunderstood and ignored. It was often dismissed for reasons having more to do with politics, religion, positivism, and sloppy thought, than for reasons central to physics. Still, like any physical theory, Bohm's theory faces challenges of varying degrees of severity. Here we review and evaluate some of these challenges.
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  10.  99
    The Bohmian Model of Quantum Cosmology.Craig Callender & Robert Weingard - 1994 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1994:218 - 227.
    A realist causal model of quantum cosmology (QC) is developed. By applying the de Broglie-Bohm interpretation of quantum mechanics to QC, we resolve the notorious 'problem of time' in QC, and derive exact equations of motion for cosmological dynamical variables. Due to this success, it is argued that if the situation in QC is used as a yardstick by which other interpretations are measured, the de Broglie-Bohm theory seems uniquely fit as an interpretation of quantum mechanics.
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  11.  95
    Time, Bohm’s Theory, and Quantum Cosmology.Craig Callender & Robert Weingard - 1996 - Philosophy of Science 63 (3):470-474.
    Onc of thc problems of quantnun cosmology follows from thc fact that thc Hamiltonian H of classical general relativity equals zero. Quantizing canonically in thc Schrodinger picture, thc Schrodinger equation for thc wave function *1* of thc universe is thcreforc thc so-called Whcelc:r—DeWitt..
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  12.  75
    Some philosophical aspects of Black holes.Robert Weingard - 1979 - Synthese 42 (1):191 - 219.
  13.  53
    Relativity and the spatiality of mental events.Robert Weingard - 1977 - Philosophical Studies 31 (4):279 - 284.
  14.  51
    Topology Change and the Unity of Space.Craig Callender & Robert Weingard - 2000 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 31 (2):227-246.
    Must space be a unity? This question, which exercised Aristotle, Descartes and Kant, is a specific instance of a more general one; namely, can the topology of physical space change with time? In this paper we show how the discussion of the unity of space has been altered but survives in contemporary research in theoretical physics. With a pedagogical review of the role played by the Euler characteristic in the mathematics of relativistic spacetimes, we explain how classical general relativity (modulo (...)
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  15.  37
    On the unity of space.Robert Weingard - 1976 - Philosophical Studies 29 (3):215 - 220.
  16.  64
    Spin and space.Robert Weingard & Gerrit Smith - 1982 - Synthese 50 (2):213 - 231.
    In this paper we will take a careful look at the well-known fact that a complete 2 rotation in three dimensional space, while leaving vectors, tensors and generally the integral representations of the rotation group unchanged, causes a sign change in the half-integral spinor representations of the rotation group. First, in a brief introduction, we review the origin of the sign change of spinors by a 2 rotation. Next, we analyze Aharonov and Susskind's (hereafter referred to as A. & S.) (...)
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  17.  49
    Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory. Paul Teller.Nick Huggett & Robert Weingard - 1996 - Philosophy of Science 63 (2):302-314.
    Paul Teller's new book, “An Interpretive Introduction to Quantum Field Theory”, is a pioneering work. To the best of our knowledge it is the first book by a philosopher devoted not only to explaining what quantum field theory is, but to clarifying the conceptual issues and puzzles to which the theory gives rise. As such it is an important book, which we hope will greatly stimulate work in the area as other philosophers and physicists react to it.
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  18.  67
    Do Virtual Particles Exist?Robert Weingard - 1982 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1982:235 - 242.
    In this paper a few facts about Feynman diagrams and the perturbation expansion of the S-matrix are reviewed and discussed in connection with the question of the ontological status of virtual particles.
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  19.  83
    On travelling backward in time.Robert Weingard - 1972 - Synthese 24 (1-2):117 - 132.
    We must conclude, from the above discussion, that Putnam has not satisfactorily explained how a person can go back in time and thus has not offered any compelling reason why we should accept his description of Oscar rather than his objector's description. However, earlier in our discussion, a possible way to show that Oscar did go back in time came to light: namely, if it could be shown that Oscar2 was at B at t 1 because Oscar1 entered the time (...)
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  20. Inequivalent Vacuum States and Rindler Particles.Robert Weingard & Barry Ward - 1998 - In Edgard Gunzig & Simon Diner (eds.), Le Vide: Univers du Tout et du Rien. Revue de l'Université de Bruxelles. pp. 241-255.
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  21.  94
    A relativistic formulation of the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen paradox.Gerrit J. Smith & Robert Weingard - 1987 - Foundations of Physics 17 (2):149-171.
    The Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen (EPR) paradox and the correlated states it introduced comprise one of the central interpretive problems of quantum mechanics. Because of the apparent nonlocal character of this paradox, it should be given a relativistic treatment. The purpose of this paper is to provide such a treatment.
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  22.  91
    General relativity and the length of the past.Robert Weingard - 1979 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 30 (2):170-172.
  23.  66
    General relativity and the conceivability of time travel.Robert Weingard - 1979 - Philosophy of Science 46 (2):328-332.
    It has been suggested by several philosophers that many of the so-called paradoxes of backward time travel can be resolved if we conceive of the backward time traveller as having a zig-zag or N-shaped world line in spacetime. In this I am in general agreement. But there is still a problem in conceiving of backward time travel this way. In this note I will show how we can solve this problem by conceiving of backward time travel in terms of the (...)
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  24.  89
    Grand unified gauge theories and the number of elementary particles.Robert Weingard - 1984 - Philosophy of Science 51 (1):150-155.
    Recently, Michael Redhead has argued that the grouping of particles into multiplets by grand unified gauge theories (GUT's) does not, by itself, imply an ontological reduction in the number of elementary particles. While sympathetic to Redhead's argument, in this note I argue that under certain conditions involving Kaluza-Klein theories, GUT's would provide such an ontological reduction.
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  25. Quantum cosmology and the beginning of the universe.Gerrit Smith & Robert Weingard - 1990 - Philosophy of Science 57 (4):663-667.
    In this note a recently developed quantum oscillating finite space cosmological model is described. The principle novelty of the model is that there is a quantum blurring of the classical singularity between cycles, instead of a singularity free bounce. Recently, Quentin Smith (1988) has argued that present theoretical and observational evidence justifies the belief that the past history of the universe is finite. The relevance of this cosmological model to Smith's arguments is discussed.
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  26.  90
    On the field aspect of quantum fields.Nick Huggett & Robert Weingard - 1994 - Erkenntnis 40 (3):293 - 301.
    In this paper we contrast the idea of a field as a system with an infinite number of degrees of freedom with a recent alternative proposed by Paul Teller in Teller (1990). We show that, although our characterisation lacks the immediate appeal of Teller's, it has more success producing agreement with intuitive categorisations than his does. We go on to extend the distinction to Quantum Mechanics, explaining the important role that it plays there. Finally, we take some time to investigate (...)
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  27.  53
    An Introduction to Topology.Robert Weingard - 1996 - The Monist 79 (1):21-33.
    Topology is a kind of abstraction from metrical geometry. The metrical geometry is the distance geometry of a space and gives rise to concepts such as length, angles, and curvature. Topology studies spaces with a much more general conception of “nearness” than that provided by the metric. Thus, although the metric geometry distinguishes spheres, cubes, and pyramids from one another due to their different metrical properties, topology classifies them together as instances of the same object. However, topology does mark a (...)
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  28. On cracking that nut, absolute space.Robert Weingard - 1977 - Philosophy of Science 44 (2):288-291.
  29.  83
    Exposing the machinery of infinite renormalization.Nick Huggett & Robert Weingard - 1996 - Philosophy of Science 63 (3):167.
    We explicate recent results that shed light on the obscure and troubling problem of renormalization in Quantum Field Theory (QFT). We review how divergent predictions arise in perturbative QFT, and how they are renormalized into finite quantities. Commentators have worried that there is no foundation for renormalization, and hence that QFTs are not logically coherent. We dispute this by describing the physics behind liquid diffusion, in which exactly analogous divergences are found and renormalized. But now we are looking at a (...)
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  30.  18
    Gauge fields, gravity and Bohm's theory.Nick Huggett & Robert Weingard - 1999 - In Tian Yu Cao (ed.), Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Field Theory. Cambridge University Press. pp. 287-297.
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  31.  36
    Berger on Earman on Temporal Anisotropy.Robert Weingard - 1972 - Journal of Philosophy 69 (21):786-790.
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  32. Physics and Times.Robert Weingard - 1969 - Dissertation, The University of Wisconsin - Madison
  33.  75
    Some comments concerning spin and relativity.Robert Weingard - 1989 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 40 (2):287-288.
  34.  31
    Lawrence Sklar. Space, time and spacetime. Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1974. xii + 423 pp. [REVIEW]Robert Weingard - 1977 - Philosophy of Science 44 (1):167-173.
  35.  18
    (2 other versions)Foundations of Space-Time Theories. [REVIEW]Robert Weingard - 1980 - Philosophical Review 89 (2):305-310.
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