Fascinating World of Philosophy of Physics at Oxford University
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Niels Martens
DPhil Candidate Philosophy of Physics
Oxford University
Why Philosophy of Physics is
Awesome!
Philosophy @ Oxford
Philosophy, Politics & Economics
Philosophy & Theology
Psychology, Philosophy & Linguistics
Philosophy & Modern Languages
Classics
Mathematics & Philosophy
Computer Science & Philosophy
Physics & Philosophy
Oxford Philosophers of Physics
Philosophy of Space
Philosophy of Space
Is space real?
Einstein’s Relativity Theory
Time slows down!
Space contracts!
Cosmology/Big Bang
Emergent Space(time)
Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence
Space exists!
It makes sense to talk
about empty space
‘Even if there is no
play tonight, the
theatre is still there’
All talk about space is
reducible to talk about
relations between particles
Compare with family
relations
Newton
Clarke
Leibniz
SUBSTANTIVALISM
RELATIONALISM
“Leibniz shifts”: space must be relational
Principle of Sufficient Reason
Immanuel Kant: Let’s use your left and
right hands
There is a difference between your right and left hand
The relationalist explains the different handedness of two
objects via relations
What about a single hand in an empty universe?
“Newton’s bucket”: let’s look at science!
The relative motion between
bucket and water is the same in
picture 1 and 3, but the relative
motion with respect to the stars is
not!
Problem: physics becomes
nonlocal
Ernst Mach
Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
Metaphysics: What does the world look like according to
quantum mechanics?
Quantum information
Probability/determinism/free will
Interpreting Quantum Mechanics
Does light (and everything else in the world) consist of
particles? Or waves?
Photo-electric effect (Einstein
Nobel Price):
particles
Double split experiment:
waves
Double slit experiment
Double slit experiment
Double slit experiment
Double slit experiment
Double slit experiment
Does each photon (light particle) go through both slits at the
same time? Can we measure which slit it goes through?
Even if you only send one photon through the slits, we still
get a (probabilistic) interference pattern!
Photons are waves (and electrons, and protons, and all
other matter)
You cannot say that there is a localised particle that goes
through one of the two slits: there is a wave that goes through
both slits: the photon is in a
SUPERPOSITION
of going
through the left and the right slit at the same time
This is absurd!
So, at the smallest scale, our world consists of quantum
waves: light, electrons, protons, everything is a quantum
wave, meaning that the `particles’ are at several places at the
same time.
Schrödinger (Magdalen College Alumnus):
This cannot be true.
If it would be true, it should also apply to large objects
(since they are made up out of small objects), and it would be
absurd to have a large object - like a table - being here and
somewhere else at the same time!
We never see tables in superpositions!
Schrödinger’s cat
Ways out
Instrumentalism (or the shut-up-and-calculate school)
Measurement `collapses the wavefunction’
If you measure with a big apparatus, you will find the particle or
cat in one specific location/state: the probability of that
location/state depends on how big the wave is at that point.
Consciousness `collapses the wavefunction’
Pilot-wave theory
Many-worlds interpretation
Questions?
Dive into the captivating realm of Philosophy of Physics with insights on Epistemology, Metaphysics, Philosophy of Science, scientific methods, and philosophical perspectives on specific sciences. Delve into the intricate discussions on space, time, gravity, Quantum theory, and cosmology at Oxford, featuring renowned philosophers and their interpretations of space and relationalism.
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Presentation Transcript
Why Philosophy of Physics is Awesome! Niels Martens DPhil Candidate Philosophy of Physics Oxford University
Epistemology Metaphysics Philosophy of Science Specific sciences Specific sciences Scientific method (Anti)-realism Phil of Physics Phil of Mind Phil of Biology Phil of Mathematics Phil of Physics Thermodynamics/ Statistical Mechanics Gravity, Space, Time & Space-time Quantum (info)
Philosophy @ Oxford Philosophy, Politics & Economics Philosophy & Theology Psychology, Philosophy & Linguistics Philosophy & Modern Languages Classics Mathematics & Philosophy Computer Science & Philosophy Physics & Philosophy
Philosophy of Space Is space real? Einstein s Relativity Theory Time slows down! Space contracts! Cosmology/Big Bang Emergent Space(time)
Leibniz-Clarke Correspondence Newton Leibniz Clarke SUBSTANTIVALISM RELATIONALISM All talk about space is reducible to talk about relations between particles Compare with family relations Space exists! It makes sense to talk about empty space Even if there is no play tonight, the theatre is still there
Leibniz shifts: space must be relational Principle of Sufficient Reason
Immanuel Kant: Lets use your left and right hands There is a difference between your right and left hand The relationalist explains the different handedness of two objects via relations What about a single hand in an empty universe?
Newtons bucket: lets look at science! Ernst Mach The relative motion between bucket and water is the same in picture 1 and 3, but the relative motion with respect to the stars is not! Problem: physics becomes nonlocal
Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics Metaphysics: What does the world look like according to quantum mechanics? Quantum information Probability/determinism/free will
Interpreting Quantum Mechanics Does light (and everything else in the world) consist of particles? Or waves? Photo-electric effect (Einstein Nobel Price): particles Double split experiment: waves
Double slit experiment Does each photon (light particle) go through both slits at the same time? Can we measure which slit it goes through? Even if you only send one photon through the slits, we still get a (probabilistic) interference pattern! Photons are waves (and electrons, and protons, and all other matter) You cannot say that there is a localised particle that goes through one of the two slits: there is a wave that goes through both slits: the photon is in a SUPERPOSITION of going through the left and the right slit at the same time
This is absurd! So, at the smallest scale, our world consists of quantum waves: light, electrons, protons, everything is a quantum wave, meaning that the `particles are at several places at the same time. Schr dinger (Magdalen College Alumnus): This cannot be true. If it would be true, it should also apply to large objects (since they are made up out of small objects), and it would be absurd to have a large object - like a table - being here and somewhere else at the same time! We never see tables in superpositions!
Ways out Instrumentalism (or the shut-up-and-calculate school) Measurement `collapses the wavefunction If you measure with a big apparatus, you will find the particle or cat in one specific location/state: the probability of that location/state depends on how big the wave is at that point. Consciousness `collapses the wavefunction Pilot-wave theory Many-worlds interpretation
