Read my newest article here:
https://iai.tv/articles/the-truths-in-physics-are-dependent-on-falsehoods-auid-2415?_auid=2020
Article in IAI: The truths in physics are dependent on falsehoods
“Idealizations in Physics”published by Cambridge University Press
Idealizations are ubiquitous in science. They are distortions or falsities that enter into theories, laws, models, and scientific representations. Various questions suggest themselves: What are idealizations? Why do we appeal to idealizations and how do we justify them? Are idealizations essential to physics and, if so, in what sense and for which purpose? How can idealizations provide genuine understanding? If our motivation for believing in the existence of unobservable entities like electrons and quarks is that they are indispensable to our best theories, should we also believe in the existence of indispensable idealizations?
My new book, Idealizations in Physics (Cambridge University Press), sheds light on such questions and connects with issues such as epistemic justification, mathematical Platonism, scientific realism, and scientific understanding.
Special thanks to the series editor James Weatherall. Find the book here and on Amazon
“Scientific Understanding and Representation: Modeling in the Physical Sciences” published by Routledge!
Scientific Understanding and Representation: Modeling in the Physical Sciences is published by Routledge today!
This book assembles cutting-edge scholarship on scientific understanding, scientific representation, and their delicate interplay. Featuring several articles in an engaging ‘critical conversation’ format, the volume integrates discussions about understanding and representation with perennial issues in the philosophy of science, including the nature of scientific knowledge, idealizations, scientific realism, scientific inference, and scientific progress.
It was wonderful working with all the amazing authors and my co-editors Insa Lawler and Kareem Khalifa!
You’ll find our introduction with summaries of all contributions on Philpapers.
Harvard Foundations of Physics Talk
Excited to have been a part of the Harvard Foundations of Physics Series mini-workshop on Infinities and Idealizations in Physics alongside Patricia Palacios and Sam Fletcher.
Thanks to Jacob Barandes for organizing and make sure to see the FOP YouTube channel also.
11th Annual Auburn Philosophy Conference: Representation, Idealization, & Explanation in Science
Talk at the Sydney Science Festival 2017
It’s been a pleasure to have been invited to speak at the Sydney Science Festival 2017, presented by Sydney Ideas and the Centre for Time at the University of Sydney.
Listen to recordings of our talk on Sydney Ideas Soundcloud, or another version edited for the ABC’s The Philosopher’s Zone: Three Things You Should Know About Time.
A big thank you to my great host Kristie Miller, as well as Jonathan Tallant for the wonderful conversation.
