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A New Perspective on Time and Physical Laws
- Source :
- The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. 73:849-877
- Publication Year :
- 2022
- Publisher :
- University of Chicago Press, 2022.
-
Abstract
- Callender claims that `time is the great informer' (Callender 2017, chapter 7), meaning that the direction(s) in which our `best' physical theories inform are temporal. This is intended to be a metaphysical claim, and as such expresses a relationship between the physical world and information-gathering systems such as ourselves. This paper gives two counterexamples to this claim, illustrating the fact that time and informative strength doubly dissociate, so the claim cannot be about physical theories in general. The first is a case where physical theories inform in directions that we have no reason to regard as temporal. The second is a case where our best physical theories fail to inform in directions that we have independent (pre-theoretic) reasons to regard as temporal. Taking these two cases into account suggests that the connection Callender makes between time and informativeness is perspectival. The second case demonstrates that, although scientists often seek information in temporal directions, the behaviour of the physical world can present serious difficulties for finding it. In response, this paper proposes a perspectival reading of Callender's claim, according to which the connection between time and informative strength has more to do with the aims and objectives of science than the workings of the physical world.
- Subjects :
- History
Natural law
media_common.quotation_subject
05 social sciences
Perspective (graphical)
Metaphysics
06 humanities and the arts
050905 science studies
0603 philosophy, ethics and religion
Classical physics
Epistemology
Philosophy
History and Philosophy of Science
Reading (process)
060302 philosophy
Meaning (existential)
0509 other social sciences
Psychology
Physical law
Counterexample
media_common
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 14643537 and 00070882
- Volume :
- 73
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........e07750eaed4307708ba698224acaf21f