Physics needs philosophy. Philosophy needs physics

DOI10.1007/S10701-018-0167-YMaRDI QIDQ725488zbMATH OpenOpenAlexWikidataFDO

Authors Carlo Rovelli

Publication date 1 August 2018

Published in Foundations of Physics (Search for Journal in Brave)

Full work available at URL https://arxiv.org/abs/1805.10602

zbMATH Keywords

AristotleKuhnphilosophy of physicsPopper

Mathematics Subject Classification ID

General and philosophical questions in quantum theory (81P05) Unified quantum theories (81V22) Gravitational waves (83C35)

Abstract: Contrary to claims about the irrelevance of philosophy for science, I argue that philosophy has had, and still has, far more influence on physics than is commonly assumed. I maintain that the current anti-philosophical ideology has had damaging effects on the fertility of science. I also suggest that recent important empirical results, such as the detection of the Higgs particle and gravitational waves, and the failure to detect supersymmetry where many expected to find it, question the validity of certain philosophical assumptions common among theoretical physicists, inviting us to engage in a clearer philosophical reflection on scientific method.

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(5)

• Artificial intelligence, chaos, prediction and understanding in science
• Physics and philosophy: do they need each other?
• Observability, visualizability and the question of metaphysical neutrality
• Why are we philosophers interested in quantum field theory?
• Can there be physics without experiments? Challenges and pitfalls

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