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The physics of condensed matter, in contrast to quantum physics or cosmology, is not traditionally associated with deep philosophical questions. However, as science - largely thanks to more powerful computers - becomes capable of analysing and modelling ever more complex many-body systems, basic questions of philosophical relevance arise. Questions about the emergence of structure, the nature of cooperative behaviour, the implications of the second law, the quantum-classical transition and many other issues. This book is a collection of essays by leading physicists and philosophers. Each investigates one or more of these issues, making use of examples from modern condensed matter research. Physicists and philosophers alike will find surprising and stimulating ideas in these pages.
List of contents
Introduction (B. Falkenburg, M. Morrison).- Reduction: On the Success and Limitations of Reductionism in Physics (H. Meyer-Ortmanns).- On the Relation between the Second Law of Thermodynamics and Classical and Quantum Mechanics (B. Drossel).- Dissipation in Quantum Mechanical Systems - Where is the System and Where is the Reservoir? (J. Ankerhold).- Explanation via Microreduction - One the Role of Scale Separation for Quantitative Modelling (R. Hillerbrand).- Emergence: Why is More Different? (M. Morrison).- Autonomy and Scales (R. Battermann).- More is Different...Sometimes: Ising Models, Emergence, and Undecidability (P. Humphreys).- Functional Reduction and Emergence (S. Bangu).- Parts and Wholes:.- Stability, Energence and Part-Whole Reduction (A. Hüttemann, R. Kühm, O. Terzidis).- Between Rigor and Reality: Many-Body Models in Condensed Matter Physics (A. Gelfert).- How Do Quasi-Particles Exist? (B. Falkenburg).- A Mechanistic Reading of Quantum Laser Theory (M. Kuhlmann).
About the author
Brigitte Falkenburg studierte Physik an der Universität Erlangen, der Technischen Universität Berlin und der Universität Heidelberg, und Philosophie an den Universitäten Bielefeld und Heidelberg. Sie promovierte 1985 zum Dr. phil mit einer Arbeit aus der Naturphilosophie und 1986 zum Dr.rer.nat. auf dem Gebiet der Hochenergiephysik. Seit 1997 ist sie Professorin für Philosophie der Wissenschaft und Technik an der Technischen Universität Dortmund. Sie ist Mitglied in der Académie Internationale de la Philosophie des Sciences , Brüssel, und der European Academy of Science . Zudem ist sie Sprecherin des Arbeitskreises Philosophie der Physik der DPG. Für ihre Arbeit zur Philosophie der Wissenschaft wurde sie mehrfach mit Preisen ausgezeichnet und hat zahlreiche Bücher und Schriften zur Philosophie der Physik, Natur- und Technikphilosophie veröffentlicht.
Summary
The physics of condensed matter, in contrast to quantum physics or cosmology, is not traditionally associated with deep philosophical questions. However, as science - largely thanks to more powerful computers - becomes capable of analysing and modelling ever more complex many-body systems, basic questions of philosophical relevance arise. Questions about the emergence of structure, the nature of cooperative behaviour, the implications of the second law, the quantum-classical transition and many other issues. This book is a collection of essays by leading physicists and philosophers. Each investigates one or more of these issues, making use of examples from modern condensed matter research. Physicists and philosophers alike will find surprising and stimulating ideas in these pages.
