RT Journal Article
T1 Symmetries, Indexicality and the Perspectivist Stance
A1 Ruyant, Quentin Joel Marie
AB I critically examine the assumption that the theoretical structure that varies under theoretical symmetries is redundant and should be eliminated from a metaphysical picture of the universe, following a ‘symmetry to reality’ inference. I do so by analysing the status of coordinate change symmetries taking a pragmatic approach. I argue that coordinate systems function as indexical devices, and play an important pragmatic role for representing concrete physical systems. I examine the implications of considering this pragmatic role seriously, taking what I call a perspectivist stance. My conclusion is that under a perspectivist stance, all symmetries (including local gauge symmetries)potentially have a direct empirical status: they point to dynamical aspects that are invariant under changes of operationalisation, and they constitute a guide not to reality, but to nomology and kinship.
PB Taylor and Francis Group
SN 0269-8595
YR 2021
FD 2021-11-19
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/103125
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/103125
LA eng
NO Ruyant, Q. (2021) "Symmetries, Indexicality and the Perspectivist Stance", International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 34(1), pp. 21–39. doi: 10.1080/02698595.2021.2001723.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 21 abr 2025