Work

The metaphysics of symmetries

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: My main aim in this paper is to lay out a metaphysical map of the possible metaphysical attitudes that philosophers may hold with respect to physical symmetries. Even though it is customary to distinguish between realism vs. anti-realism, I show that the metaphysical landscape looks a bit more complex. To show this, I differentiate at least nine different views that have been held, or might be held, concerning which place physical symmetries occupy in one’s ontology.

Source: THEORIA An International Journal for Theory History and Foundations of Science

DOI: 10.1387/theoria.27141

Author: Cristian López

Institution: University of Lausanne

Language: English

Topic: Philosophy and History of Science

Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science

Field: Arts and Humanities

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: diamond

Funders: National Science Foundation, Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Université de Lausanne

Award: Parsimonious ontology and the relationship between science and persons