Psychology Dictionary of ArgumentsHome | |||
| |||
Quantities, physics: Quantities in physics are measurable properties of objects, processes or states. See also Scales, Proportions, Change, Motion, Processes, Flux, Space, Time, Spacetime, Metrisability, Measurements._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
Author | Concept | Summary/Quotes | Sources |
---|---|---|---|
Bas van Fraassen on Quantities (Physics) - Dictionary of Arguments
I 44 Quantities/physics/Newton: a) absolute quantities: they appear in the axioms (not perceivable) - b) perceivable quantities ("sensible") - these are determined experimentally. >Experiments. I 45 Apparent movement/Copernicus: there is a difference between the true motion of the earth and the true motions of the planets. "true"/Copernicus: = is relative to the sun. Relative motions/Newton: (all observable motions) is always identifiable as the difference between true motions. Phenomena/Fraassen: we call these relative (relational) structures phenomena. Movements/Fraassen: movements are the structures that the perceived motions show (phenomena) - phenomenon: is always identifiable with movements in a model -> "empirical structures": >Quantities/Physics/Fraassen >Measurements. Absolute acceleration/Newton: absolute acceleration produces strain and compression in the phenomena - Newton: if the center were in another constant absolute motion (not acceleration) the phenomena would not change - "because force is associated with acceleration, not velocity". Empirical adequacy: there is a model so that all phenomena are identifiable with movements in the model (also historical and not perceived ones). >Absoluteness. Empirically equivalent: are two theories if they have both models that do this. >Models._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Fr I B. van Fraassen The Scientific Image Oxford 1980 |