The Structure of the World: Metaphysics and Representation
- S. French
- Philosophy
- 30 January 2014
1. Theory Change: From Fresnel's Equations to Group Theoretic Structure 2. Mixing in the Metaphysics 1-Underdermination 3. Mixing in the Metaphysics 2-Humility 4. Scenes from the Lost History of…
Remodelling Structural Realism: Quantum Physics and the Metaphysics of Structure
- S. French, J. Ladyman
- PhilosophySynthese
- 1 July 2003
Ladyman's 'metaphysical' or 'ontic' form of structural realism is outlined and it is argued that by reconceptualising objects in structural terms it offers the best hope for the realist in the context of modern physics.
Quantum Physics and the Identity of Indiscernibles*
- S. French, M. Redhead
- PhysicsBritish Journal for the Philosophy of Science
- 1 June 1988
This paper is concerned with the question of whether atomic particles of the same species, i. e. with the same intrinsic state-independent properties of mass, spin, electric charge, etc, violate the…
A Model‐Theoretic Account of Representation (Or, I Don't Know Much about Art…but I Know It Involves Isomorphism)
- S. French
- Art, PhilosophyPhilosophia Scientiæ
- 1 December 2003
It is argued that there exist accounts of representation in both art and science involving isomorphism which accommodate the apparent counterexamples and allow us to understand how “impossible” artistic objects and inconsistent scientific theories can be said to represent.
Science and Partial Truth: A Unitary Approach to Models and Scientific Reasoning
Da Costa and French explore the consequences of adopting a "pragmatic" notion of truth in the philosophy of science-in other words, accepting a theory as valid when it may only be partially true…
The Reasonable Effectiveness of Mathematics: Partial Structures and the Application of Group Theory to Physics
- S. French
- PhysicsSynthese
- 2004
This work uses Wigner's own application of group theory to nuclear physics to indicate that this effectiveness can be seen to be not so unreasonable if attention is paid to the various idealising moves undertaken.
Reinflating the Semantic Approach
- S. French, J. Ladyman
- Philosophy
- 1 July 1999
Abstract The semantic, or model‐theoretic, approach to theories has recently come under criticism on two fronts: (i) it is claimed that it cannot account for the wide diversity of models employed in…
The interdependence of structure, objects and dependence
- S. French
- PhilosophySynthese
- 13 March 2010
A useful context is provided by Floridi’s account of the relationship between ‘ontic’ and ‘epistemic’ structural realisms and some brief remarks on possible extensions of OSR into other scientific domains are made.
The Model-Theoretic Approach in the Philosophy of Science
- S. French
- PhilosophyPhilosophia Scientiæ
- 1 June 1990
It is argued that this program is further enhanced by the introduction of partial structures and this leads to a natural and intuitive account of both "iconic" and mathematical models and of the role of the former in science itself.
VI* STRUCTURE AS A WEAPON OF THE REALIST'
- S. French
- Philosophy
- 1 June 2006
Although much of its history has been neglected or misunderstood, a structuralist ‘tendency’ has re-emerged within the philosophy of science. Broadly speaking, it consists of two fundamental strands:…
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