▽Collapse Theories ●05/15 23:40 First published Thu Mar 7, 2002; substantive revision Fri May 15, 2020 Quantum mechanics, with its revolutionary implications, has posed innumerable problems to philosophers of science. In particular, it has suggested reconsidering basic concepts such as the existence of a world that is, at least to some extent, independent of the observer,the possibility of getting reliable and objective knowledg
▽The Role of Decoherence in Quantum Mechanics ●04/25 00:39 In Section 1 we discuss the concept of suppression of interference and give a simplified survey of the theory, emphasising features that will be relevant later. In fact, the term decoherence refers to two largely overlapping areas of research. The characteristic feature of the first (often called ‘environmental’ or ‘dynamical’decoherence) is the study of concrete models of
▽Scientific Progress ●04/21 12:30 Lively interest about the development of science promoted close co-operation between historians and philosophers of science. For example, case studies of historical examples (e.g., the replacement of Newton’s classical mechanics by quantum theory and theory of relativity) have inspired many philosophical treatments of scientific revolutions. Historical case studies were important for philoso
▽John Locke ●02/20 06:11 For I thought that the first Step towards satisfying the several Enquiries, the Mind of Man was apt to run into, was, to take a Survey of our own Understandings, examine our own Powers, and see to what Things they were adapted. Till that was done, I suspected that we began at the wrong end, and in vain sought for Satisfaction in a quiet and secure Possession of Truths, that most concern’d us
▽Models in Science ●02/05 04:03 First published Mon Feb 27, 2006; substantive revision Tue Feb 4, 2020 Models are of central importance in many scientific contexts. The centrality of models such as inflationary models in cosmology,general-circulation models of the global climate, the double-helix model of DNA, evolutionary models in biology, agent-based models in the social sciences, and general-equilibrium models of markets in
