The metaphysics of symmetries
My main aim in this paper is to lay out a metaphysical map of the possible metaphysical attitudes that philosophers may hold with respect to physical symmetries. Even though it is customary to distinguish between realism vs. anti-realism, I show that the metaphysical landscape looks a bit more complex. To show this, I differentiate at least nine different views that have been held, or might be held, concerning which place physical symmetries occupy in one’s ontology.
Authors
- Cristian López (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2883-4037)
Institutions
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- THEORIA An International Journal for Theory History and Foundations of Science
- Published
- 2025-08-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1387/theoria.27141
- Primary Topic
- History and Theory of Mathematics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
- Université de Lausanne