Book contents
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Reviews of the first edition
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Revised Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Rise of Classical Field Theory
- Part I The Geometrical Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part II The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part III The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- 9 Gauge-Theoretical Origins and Tentative Steps
- 10 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Gauge Field Theories
- 11 The Gauge Field Programme
- 12 Ontological Synthesis and Scientific Realism
- Appendices
- References
- Name Index
- Subject Index
12 - Ontological Synthesis and Scientific Realism
from Part III - The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 October 2019
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Reviews of the first edition
- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface to the Revised Edition
- Preface to the First Edition
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The Rise of Classical Field Theory
- Part I The Geometrical Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part II The Quantum Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- Part III The Gauge Field Programme for Fundamental Interactions
- 9 Gauge-Theoretical Origins and Tentative Steps
- 10 The Formation of the Conceptual Foundations of Gauge Field Theories
- 11 The Gauge Field Programme
- 12 Ontological Synthesis and Scientific Realism
- Appendices
- References
- Name Index
- Subject Index
Summary
The historical study of 20th century field theories in the preceding chapters provides an adequate testing ground for models of how science develops. On this basis I shall argue in this chapter that one of the possible ways of achieving conceptual revolutions is what I shall call “ontological synthesis” (Section 12.4). This notion is based on, and gives a strong support to, a special version of scientific realism (Sections 12.3 and 12.5). It has also provided a firm ground for the rationality of scientific growth (Section 12.6).
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- Conceptual Developments of 20th Century Field Theories , pp. 337 - 368Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2019