Ruyant, Quentin Joel Marie2024-04-162024-04-162021-11-19Ruyant, Q. (2021) "Symmetries, Indexicality and the Perspectivist Stance", International Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 34(1), pp. 21–39. doi: 10.1080/02698595.2021.2001723.0269-859510.1080/02698595.2021.2001723https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/103125I 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.engjournal article1469-9281https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02698595.2021.2001723open access001.1001.8SymmetriesPerspectivismIndexicalityScientific representationFilosofía de la Ciencia7205 Filosofía de la Ciencia