Beyond the edge of certainty : reflections on the rise of physical conventionalism

Helmut Pulte

Philosophia Scientiae (2000)

  • Volume: 4, Issue: 1, page 47-68
  • ISSN: 1281-2463

Abstract

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Until today, conventionalism is mainly regarded from the point of view of geometry, both in historical as in philosophical perspective. This paper, which corresponds in a certain way with earlier studies of J. Giedymin, aims at a broader interpretation. The importance of the so-called ‘physics of principles’, rooted in the tradition of analytical mechanics, for Poincaré’s conventionalism is emphasized. It is argued that important elements of physical conventionalism can already be found in this tradition that underwent a fundamental change in the course of the 19th century.

How to cite

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Pulte, Helmut. "Beyond the edge of certainty : reflections on the rise of physical conventionalism." Philosophia Scientiae 4.1 (2000): 47-68. <http://eudml.org/doc/103643>.

@article{Pulte2000,
abstract = {Until today, conventionalism is mainly regarded from the point of view of geometry, both in historical as in philosophical perspective. This paper, which corresponds in a certain way with earlier studies of J. Giedymin, aims at a broader interpretation. The importance of the so-called ‘physics of principles’, rooted in the tradition of analytical mechanics, for Poincaré’s conventionalism is emphasized. It is argued that important elements of physical conventionalism can already be found in this tradition that underwent a fundamental change in the course of the 19th century.},
author = {Pulte, Helmut},
journal = {Philosophia Scientiae},
language = {eng},
number = {1},
pages = {47-68},
publisher = {Éditions Kimé},
title = {Beyond the edge of certainty : reflections on the rise of physical conventionalism},
url = {http://eudml.org/doc/103643},
volume = {4},
year = {2000},
}

TY - JOUR
AU - Pulte, Helmut
TI - Beyond the edge of certainty : reflections on the rise of physical conventionalism
JO - Philosophia Scientiae
PY - 2000
PB - Éditions Kimé
VL - 4
IS - 1
SP - 47
EP - 68
AB - Until today, conventionalism is mainly regarded from the point of view of geometry, both in historical as in philosophical perspective. This paper, which corresponds in a certain way with earlier studies of J. Giedymin, aims at a broader interpretation. The importance of the so-called ‘physics of principles’, rooted in the tradition of analytical mechanics, for Poincaré’s conventionalism is emphasized. It is argued that important elements of physical conventionalism can already be found in this tradition that underwent a fundamental change in the course of the 19th century.
LA - eng
UR - http://eudml.org/doc/103643
ER -

References

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