Abstract
While empirical symmetries relate situations, theoretical symmetries relate models of a theory we use to represent them. An empirical symmetry is perfect if and only if any two situations it relates share all intrinsic properties. Sometimes one can use a theory to explain an empirical symmetry by showing how it follows from a corresponding theoretical symmetry. The theory then reveals a perfect symmetry. I say what this involves and why it matters, beginning with a puzzle that is resolved by the subsequent analysis. I conclude by pointing to applications and implications of the ideas developed earlier in the paper. 1 Introduction 2 Is Faraday in the Same Boat as Galileo 3 Empirical Symmetries 4 Theoretical Symmetries 5 Explaining Empirical SymmetriesConclusion 6 Appendix A 7 Appendix B.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 697-720 |
Number of pages | 24 |
Journal | British Journal for the Philosophy of Science |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2009 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- History
- Philosophy
- History and Philosophy of Science