Philosophy of mathematical physics / Klaas Landsman

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Landsman, Klaas, author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in the philosophy of physics

Cambridge elements. Elements in the philosophy of physics, N 2632-413X

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Mathematical physics--Philosophy.

Mathematical physics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2026

Summary:

"A sound philosophy of mathematical physics balances a philosophy of mathematics with a philosophy of physics, sharpening the general applicability problem of mathematics by also taking care of (i) the early modern ‘mathematisation of the world picture’, (ii) the remote and theory-laden character of the targets of mathematical models of modern physics, and (iii) Wigner’s ‘unreasonable effectiveness of mathematics in the natural sciences’. Guided by a historical survey, the author proposes that theories of mathematical physics are meaning-constitutive a priori constructions, conventional but far from arbitrary and best described as hypothetical. Their models subsequently mediate between theory and nature, that is, between the a priori and the a posteriori. Models mediate by playing the role of Wittgensteinian yardsticks or objects of comparison to be held against nature as represented by data models, where the comparison is made via surrogative inference. This balancing act compromises realism"-- Provided by publisher

Contents:

Historical survey : Plato to Galilei

Historical survey : Huygens to Hilbert

The a priori in mathematical physics

Models

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed August 18, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version: Landsman, Klaas Philosophy of mathematical physics

ISBN:

9781009874724

1009874721

9781009874717

1009874713

OCLC:

1592116638

Publisher Number:

CIPO000406841

CIPO000415838

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license