Metaphysics of the principle of least action

DOI10.1016/J.SHPSB.2017.09.004zbMATH Open1390.00063arXiv1511.03429OpenAlexW3101984591WikidataQ63353643 ScholiaQ63353643MaRDI QIDQ1752575FDOQ1752575

Vladislav Terekhovich

Publication date: 24 May 2018

Published in: Studies in History and Philosophy of Science. Part B. Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Abstract: Despite the importance of the variational principles of physics, there have been relatively few attempts to consider them for a realistic framework. In addition to the old teleological question, this paper continues the recent discussion regarding the modal involvement of the principle of least action and its relations with the Humean view of the laws of nature. The reality of possible paths in the principle of least action is examined from the perspectives of the contemporary metaphysics of modality and Leibniz's concept of essences or possibles striving for existence. I elaborate a modal interpretation of the principle of least action that replaces a classical representation of a system's motion along a single history in the actual modality by simultaneous motions along an infinite set of all possible histories in the possible modality. This model is based on an intuition that deep ontological connections exist between the possible paths in the principle of least action and possible quantum histories in the Feynman path integral. I interpret the action as a physical measure of the essence of every possible history. Therefore only one actual history has the highest degree of the essence and minimal action. To address the issue of necessity, I assume that the principle of least action has a general physical necessity and lies between the laws of motion with a limited physical necessity and certain laws with a metaphysical necessity.

Full work available at URL: https://arxiv.org/abs/1511.03429

zbMATH Keywords

modalityLeibnizlaws of natureFeynman path integralprinciple of least actionpossibilia

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

Physics (00A79)

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Cited In (2)

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• The principle of least action as the logical empiricist's shibboleth

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