The Role of Symmetry in Mathematics

Over the past few decades the notion of symmetry has played a major role in physics and in the philosophy of physics. Philosophers have used symmetry to discuss the ontology and seeming objectivity of the laws of physics. We introduce several notions of symmetry in mathematics and explain how they can also be used in resolving different problems in the philosophy of mathematics. We use symmetry to discuss the objectivity of mathematics, the role of mathematical objects, the unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics and the relationship of mathematics to physics.     

Variations in Variation and Selection: The Ubiquity of the Variation-and-Selective-Retention Ratchet in Emergent Organizational Complexity, Part II: Quantum Field Theory

If the general arguments concerning theinvolvement of variation and selection inexplanations of ``fit'' are valid, then variationand selection explanations should beappropriate, or at least potentiallyappropriate, outside the paradigm historisticdomains of biology and knowledge. In thisdiscussion, I wish to indicate some potentialroles for variation and selection infoundational physics – specifically inquantum field theory. I will not be attemptingany full coherent ontology for quantum fieldtheory – none currently exists, and none islikely for at least the short term future. Instead, I wish to engage in some partiallyspeculative interpretations of some interestingresults in this area with the aim ofdemonstrating that variation and selectionnotions might play a role even here. Ifvariation and selection can survive in even asinhospitable and non-paradigmatic a terrain asfoundational physics, then it can surviveanywhere.     

对称性破缺与宇宙设计

寻求内在的对称与和谐是宇宙设计的最基本原则,但对称性破缺,作为宇宙设计的辅助原则,则是隐含对称性的间接表现形式。粒子物理的希格斯机制表明,“自发破缺”也可能为规范对称性理论贡献力量。     

Gödel, Einstein, Mach: Casting Constraints on All-embracing Concepts

Can a theory turn back, as it were, upon itselfand vouch for its own features? That is, canthe derived elements of a theory be the veryprimitive terms that provide thepresuppositions of the theory? This form of anall-embracing feature assumes a totality inwhich there occurs quantification over thattotality, quantification that is defined bythis very totality. I argue that the Machprinciple exhibits such a feature ofall-embracing nature. To clarify the argument,I distinguish between on the one handcompleteness and on the other wholeness andtotality, as different all-embracing features:the former being epistemic while the latter –ontological. I propose an analogy between the Mach principleas a possible selection principle in generalrelativity, and the vicious-circle principle infoundations of mathematics. I finally concludewith a consequence of this analogyvis-à-vis completeness and totality,viz., both should be constrained if they wereto be valid concepts for a physical theory. The paper progresses chronologically. Itfocuses on the physical approach of Mach thatformed the background for Einstein's generaltheory of relativity. The solutions of thefield equations in the form of cosmologicalmodels set the scene for the view ofall-embracing concepts discussed in the paper.Specifically, the ideas encapsulated in whatEinstein called the Mach principle, constitutethe thread of this account. The principle isfound however to falter, in view of the factthat there are several different types ofsolution of the field equations that contradictit. One such important cosmological model withramifying consequences is the rotational masssolution of Gödel. The question arises asto whether there is an analogy betweenincompleteness in foundations of mathematicsand in physics? The analogy between the vicious-circleprinciple and the Mach principle demonstratesan affirmative answer which suggests in turnthat completeness and totality must becurtailed – that is, conditions and limitsshould be imposed on completeness and totalityto render them valid for physical theories.     

Understanding Scientific Inquiries of Galileo’s Formulation for the Law of Free Falling Motion

The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of the role of abstraction and idealization in Galileo’s scientific inquiries into the law of free falling motion, and their importance in the history of science. Because there is no consensus on the use of the terms “abstraction” and “idealization” in the literature, it is necessary to distinguish between them at the outset. This paper will argue (1) for the importance of abstraction and idealization in physics and the theories and laws of physics constructed with abduction from observations and (2) that these theoretical laws of physics should be tested with deduction and induction thorough quasi-idealized entities rather than empirical results in the everyday world. Galileo’s work is linked to thought experiments in natural science. Galileo, using thought experiments based on idealization, persuaded others that what had been proven true for a ball on an inclined plane would be equally true for a ball falling through a vacuum.     

科学技术与可持续发展:21世纪科技发展的重大战略问题

科学技术与可持续发展是一个重大的科学技术发展战略问题,科学技术的发展将改变运行的传统轨道,开始进入可持续发展.科学技术的发展不仅运行在物理世界,还能够运行在生态世界.这涉及到科学技术发展将由原来的单向轨道开始转向物理世界与生态世界的双向轨道.     

仁科芳雄及仁科研究室传统

19世纪末20世纪初,物理学发生了翻天覆地的变化,在这个激动人心的年代里,产生了许多物理学史上伟大的科学家.本文正是基于这样的年代背景,从纵向的角度介绍了"日本原子物理学之父"--仁科芳雄的科学生涯,试图从中探寻仁科研究室传统的内在源流和特征.     

道家哲学与现代物理哲学的契合性考察

与儒家"向内觅理"有别,道家重视外向的"天之道",对自然之源和万物之本多有探讨,形成了独特而深刻的自然哲学思想,诸如"道""朴""无""有""阴阳"等自然哲学概念,在此基础上形成了"道生万物"的宇宙创生观,"负阴抱阳"的自然运行观,"道通为一"的世界统一观等自然哲学思想.这些概念和思想被现代物理科学,特别是量子物理学所...     

中国古代“物理”一词的由来与词义演变

该文认为，就目前所知，中国古代“物理”一词最早出现于战国时期。“物理”在中国的广泛运用情况表明，其基本含义是泛指事理、道理、情理；通常是指万物之理，或称“大物理”，有时寓有自然规律之义。这种含义与西方古代“物理”一词的含义基本相同。该文还认为，日文“物理学”一词的翻译受到中国古代“物理”一词的深刻影响，且由西文ＰＨＹＳＩＣＡ或ＰＨＹＳＩＣＳ一词译成中文“物理学”的时间可能早于译成日文的时间。     

斯多亚学派的宇宙论

斯多亚学派是希腊化三大哲学流派之一，它的字宙论在古代西方独树一帜。本文对斯多亚学派的宇宙论作了三方面的分析：（1）字宙扩张论和生机论；（2）宇宙周期论和时间观；（3）“神”作为物体和宇宙大火。本文认为斯多亚学派的字宙论属于物理学家的物理学，而不是数学家的物理学。     

19世纪中期至20世纪初期中国和日本的物理学

１９世纪中期至２０世纪初期是中国和日本引进西方科技知识的重要历史时期。该文通过讨论物理学书籍的翻译与教科书的编译、教学与研究、统一名词及组织学会等方面的情况，比较了该时期两国传播和接受物理学知识的异同。     

Philosophy of chemistry and the image of science

The philosophical analysis of chemistry has advanced at such a pace during the last dozen years that the existence of philosophy of chemistry as an autonomous discipline cannot be doubted any more. The present paper will attempt to analyse the experience of philosophy of chemistry at the, so to say, meta-level. Philosophers of chemistry have especially stressed that all sciences need not be similar to physics. They have tried to argue for chemistry as its own type of science and for a pluralistic understanding of science in general. However, when stressing the specific character of chemistry, philosophers do not always analyse the question ‘What is science?’ theoretically. It is obvious that a ‘monistic’ understanding of science should not be based simply on physics as the epitome of science, regarding it as a historical accident that physics has obtained this status. The author’s point is that the philosophical and methodological image of science should not be chosen arbitrarily; instead, it should be theoretically elaborated as an idealization (theoretical model) substantiated on the historical practice of science. It is argued that although physics has, in a sense, justifiably obtained the status of a paradigm of science, chemistry, which is not simply a physical science, but a discipline with a dual character, is also relevant for elaborating a theoretical model of science. The theoretical model of science is a good tool for examining various issues in philosophy of chemistry as well as in philosophy of science or science studies generally.     

物理学名词规范使用例析

通过分析一些物理学名词的定名,简述了科技名词的定名应遵循“单义性”“科学性”“约定俗成”“协调一致”等原则,外国科学家的译名应遵从“名从主人”“约定俗成”“服从主科”“尊重规范”等原则。列举了物理学名词依据这些原则所做的部分修订情况,以便新闻、出版、教学、科研等部门规范使用这些名词。     

物理学名词规范使用例析

通过分析一些物理学名词的定名，简述了科技名词的定名应遵循“单义性”“科学性”“约定俗成”“协调一致”等原则，外国科学家的译名应遵从“名从主人”“约定俗成”“服从主科”“尊重规范”等原则。列举了物理学名词依据这些原则所做的部分修订情况，以便新闻、出版、教学、科研等部门规范使用这些名词。     

Leibniz and Newton on Space

This paper reexamines the historical debate between Leibniz and Newton on the nature of space. According to the traditional reading, Leibniz (in his correspondence with Clarke) produced metaphysical arguments (relying on the Principle of Sufficient Reason and the Principle of Identity of Indiscernibles) in favor of a relational account of space. Newton, according to the traditional account, refuted the metaphysical arguments with the help of an empirical argument based on the bucket experiment. The paper claims that Leibniz’s and Newton’s arguments cannot be understood apart from the distinct dialectics of their respective positions vis-à-vis Descartes’ theory of space and physics. Against the traditional reading, the paper argues that Leibniz and Newton are operating within a different metaphysics and different conceptions of “place,” and that their respective arguments can largely remain intact without undermining the other philosopher’s conception of space. The paper also takes up the task of clarifying the distinction between true and absolute motion, and of explaining the relativity of motion implied by Leibniz’s account. The paper finally argues that the two philosophers have different conceptions of the relation between metaphysics and science, and that Leibniz’s attempt to base physical theory on an underlying metaphysical account of forces renders his account of physics unstable.     

Local and Global Properties of the World

The essence of the method of physics is inseparably connected with the problem of interplay between local and global properties of the universe. In the present paper we discuss this interplay as it is present in three major departments of contemporary physics: general relativity, quantum mechanics and some attempts at quantizing gravity (especially geometrodynamics and its recent successors in the form of various pregeometry conceptions). It turns out that all big interpretative issues involved in this problem point towards the necessity of changing from the standard space-time geometry to some radically new, most probably non-local, generalization. We argue that the recent noncommutative geometry offers attractive possibilities, and gives us a conceptual insight into its algebraic foundations. Noncommutative spaces are, in general, non-local, and their applications to physics, known at present, seem very promising. One would expect that beneath the Planck threshold there reigns a "noncommutative pregeometry", and only when crossing this threshold does the usual space-time geometry emerges.     

量子场论的还原性问题

描述粒子物理学的核心语言是可重整化的量子场论。重整化最初是应对量子场论中数学计算无穷大问题的有效策略,是解决理论物理学中“突现”问题的有力手段。本文从重整化操作在量子场论中产生的影响出发,回顾了有效场论思想产生的历史,叙述了重整化方法所引起的哲学争论,旨在对还原论和反还原论在解释量子场论中涉及的“还原”、“突现”、“层次性”等问题予以方法论考察,最后从语境的视角对重整化方法进行诠释,指出对基础理论及理论间关系的探讨是具有境遇性的。     

坂田昌一及其对理论物理学的贡献

坂田昌一(1911-1970)是日本著名的理论物理学家,毕生从事原子核物理学和粒子物理学的研究。同时,他还是一位勇于革新的科研教学改革家和社会活动家,积极参与维护和倡导日本的学术自由、研究自治以及废除核武器、争取世界和平的运动。本文简要介绍坂田的生平以及他参与的主要社会活动,并评述其在发展介子理论和基本粒子结构模型方面的工作。     

黎曼的几何思想萌芽

在分析黎曼的几何思想和其他学科关系基础上，指出了其几何思想的三个来源：数学、物理和哲学。这其中，19世纪前半叶几何学对黎曼有着直接影响；物理研究也是黎曼的兴趣所在，尤其是他一度试图建立各种作用力的统一理论，促使黎曼用无穷小分析研究流形，并触发了黎曼对空间几何基础的讨论；哲学上，黎曼对空间认识论的思考从赫尔巴特那里得到了灵感，并且在流形概念上可能也借鉴了赫尔巴特的研究。最后指出：研究黎曼几何思想不能把各学科分开考虑，必须全面考虑其间关系。     

A Nonlinear Method for Measuring the Effects of Environmental Variations

Ever wonder if it is possible to construct a numeric scale for environmental variables, like one does for the temperature? This paper is an attempt to construct one. There are two main parts: section “Statistical Analysis of Variations” presents a general statistical strategy for environmental factor selection. Section “Nonlinear Analytical Geometric Model of Variations” develops an analytical geometric representation of system variations in response to environmental changes. The model is used to quantify the effects of environmental interactions. The paper treats only one-dimensional case, however, the derivation of the case of multiple independent factors follows immediately. The general method developed in this paper may prove applicable to many different fields, such as extensions beyond classical physics, economics, and other sciences. Section “Conclusion” provides an illustration of applications, examples and implications of the results.