Sophistry about symmetries?

Synthese, vol. 199, pp. 315–344

Abstract

Abstract A common adage runs that, given a theory manifesting symmetries, the syntax of that theory should be modified in order to construct a new theory, from which symmetry-variant structure of the original theory has been excised. Call this strategy for explicating the underlying ontology of symmetry-related models reduction. Recently, Dewar has proposed an alternative to reduction as a means of articulating the ontology of symmetry-related models—what he calls (external) sophistication, in which the semantics of the original theory is modified, and symmetry-related models of that theory are treated as if they are isomorphic. In this paper, we undertake a critical evaluation of sophistication about symmetries—we find the programme underdeveloped in a number of regards. In addition, we clarify the interplay between sophistication about symmetries, and a separate debate to which Dewar has contributed—viz., that between interpretational versus motivational approaches to symmetry transformations.

Authors 2

1. Niels C. M. Martens corresponding Aachen Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology

   RWTH Aachen University · University of Bonn

   Affiliation as printed

   Institute for Theoretical Particle Physics and Cosmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Lichtenberg Group for History and Philosophy of Physics, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

2. James Alexander Mabyn Read corresponding

   University of Oxford

   Affiliation as printed

   Pembroke College, Univeristy of Oxford, Oxford, UK