Asymptotics, reduction and emergence

Title: Asymptotics, reduction and emergence
Creator: Hooker, C. A.
Relation: British Journal for the Philosophy of Science Vol. 55, Issue 3, p. 435-479
Publisher Link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/bjps/55.3.435
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Resource Type: journal article
Date: 2004
Description: All the major inter-theoretic relations of fundamental science are asymptotic ones, e.g. quantum theory as Planck's constant h → 0, yielding (roughly) Newtonian mechanics. Thus asymptotics ultimately grounds claims about inter-theoretic explanation, reduction and emergence. This paper examines four recent, central claims by Batterman concerning asymptotics and reduction. While these claims are criticised, the discussion is used to develop an enriched, dynamically-based account of reduction and emergence, to show its capacity to illuminate the complex variety of inter-theory relationships in physics, and to provide a principled resolution to such persistent philosophical problems as multiple realisability and the nature of the special sciences.
Subject: asymptotic; Newtonian mechanics; quantum theory; reduction; emergence
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/34897
Identifier: uon:3741
Identifier: ISSN:0007-0882
Language: eng
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