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Quantum Field Theory: Underdetermination, Inconsistency, and Idealization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Doreen Fraser
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Abstract

Quantum field theory (QFT) presents a genuine example of the underdetermination of theory by empirical evidence. There are variants of QFT—for example, the standard textbook formulation and the rigorous axiomatic formulation—that are empirically indistinguishable yet support different interpretations. This case is of particular interest to philosophers of physics because, before the philosophical work of interpreting QFT can proceed, the question of which variant should be subject to interpretation must be settled. New arguments are offered for basing the interpretation of QFT on a rigorous axiomatic variant of the theory. The pivotal considerations are the roles that consistency and idealization play in this case.

Type
Research Article
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 76 , Issue 4 , October 2009 , pp. 536 - 567
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

‡

For helpful comments and suggestions, thanks to Laura Ruetsche, Gordon Belot, Nick Huggett, Dave Baker, Hilary Greaves, David Malament, David Wallace, Steve Weinstein, Michael Kiessling, Michael Fisher, James Mattingly, two anonymous referees, and especially John Earman. Thanks also to the audiences of the many talks in which versions of this material were presented. This research was partially supported by a doctoral fellowship from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

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