PIRSA:16030024

Theoretical Structure and Theoretical Equivalence

Weatherall, J. (2016). Theoretical Structure and Theoretical Equivalence. Perimeter Institute. https://pirsa.org/16030024

Weatherall, James. Theoretical Structure and Theoretical Equivalence. Perimeter Institute, Mar. 22, 2016, https://pirsa.org/16030024 

          @misc{ pirsa_PIRSA:16030024,
            doi = {10.48660/16030024},
            url = {https://pirsa.org/16030024},
            author = {Weatherall, James},
            keywords = {Quantum Foundations},
            language = {en},
            title = {Theoretical Structure and Theoretical Equivalence},
            publisher = {Perimeter Institute},
            year = {2016},
            month = {mar},
            note = {PIRSA:16030024 see, \url{https://pirsa.org}}
          }

James Weatherall University of California, Irvine

DOI 10.48660/16030024
Collection
Talk Type Scientific Series
Subject

Abstract

Our physical theories often admit multiple formulations or variants.  Although these variants are generally empirically indistinguishable, they nonetheless appear to represent the world as having different structures.   In this talk, I will discuss several criteria for comparing empirically equivalent theories that may be used to identify (1) when one variant has more structure than another (i.e., when a formulation of a theory has “excess structure”) and (2) when two variants are theoretically equivalent, even though they appear to represent the world differently.  I will then discuss where this leaves the philosopher trying to use our empirically successful theories as a guide to the structure of the world.