Related papers: No-Go Theorems: What Are They Good For?
In this introductory note, I describe my particular view of the notion of ontological commitments as honest and pragmatic working hypotheses that assume the existence (out there) of certain entities represented by the symbols in our theory.…
The present discussion concerning certain fundamental physical theories (such as string theory and multiverse cosmology) has reopened the demarcation problem between science and non-science. While parts of the physics community see the…
The Nielsen-Ninomiya no-go theorem asserts that chiral Weyl~(``neutrino'') fields cannot exist on lattices. However, the actual mathematical arguments advanced in the theorem fail to make that case. The theorem leaves the problem of lattice…
A non-existence theorem of classical electrodynamics in odd-dimensional spacetimes is shown to be invalid. The source of the error is pointed out, and is then demonstrated during the derivation of the fields generated by a uniformly moving…
Abel's continuity theorem for power series is a great tool to compute sums and prove properties of special functions. However, apart from two basic examples, this no longer occupies a place in Analysis courses. This note is an invitation to…
A recent no-go theorem gives an extension of the Wigner's friend argument that purports to prove that "Quantum theory cannot consistently describe the use of itself." The argument is complex and thought provoking, but fails in a…
Topos theory, a branch of category theory, has been proposed as mathematical basis for the formulation of physical theories. In this article, we give a brief introduction to this approach, emphasising the logical aspects. Each topos serves…
Hidden-variable (HV) theories allege that a quantum state describes an ensemble of systems distinguished by the values of hidden variables. No-go theorems assert that HV theories cannot match the predictions of quantum theory. The present…
Understanding the interface between quantum and relativistic theories is crucial for fundamental and practical advances, especially given that key physical concepts such as causality take different forms in these theories. Bell's no-go…
While philosophy of science is the study of problems of knowledge concerning science in general, there also exists - or should exist - a '' philosophy in science'' directed at finding out in what ways our actual scientific knowledge may…
We acuminate the idea of a final theory of physics in order to analyze its logical implications and consequences. It is argued that the rationale of a final theory is the principle of sufficient reason. This implies that a final theory of…
Theory and experiment have long discussed negative thermodynamic pressure states, but their microscopic origins are unclear. I address this problem within the framework of quantum thermodynamics. I show that the pressure exerted on the…
In classical theory, the trajectory of a particle is entirely predetermined by the complete set of initial conditions via dynamical laws. Based on this, we formulate a no-go theorem for the dynamics of classical particles, i.e., a Bell's…
An overview of the experimental and observational status in gravitational physics is given, both for the known tests of general relativity and Newtonian gravity, but also for the increasing number of results where these theories run into…
Some thoughts are presented on the inter-relation between beauty and truth in science in general and theoretical physics in particular. Some conjectural procedures that can be used to create new ideas, concepts and results are illustrated…
Relational quantum mechanics (RQM) proposes an ontology of relations between physical systems, where any system can serve as an `observer' and any physical interaction between systems counts as a `measurement'. Quantities take unique values…
Being mathematics a natural language to Mankind and to physics, it must be constantly adapted to our necessities and our natural perception. Then, mathematical concepts are not absolute to reality. Although mathematical theories are…
We investigate the applicability of the formalism of quantum mechanics to everyday life. It seems to be directly relevant for situations in which the very act of coming to a conclusion or decision on one issue affects one's confidence about…
We prove a No-Go theorem for singularity resolution in gravitational collapse: within any analytic gravitational theory, including general relativity and all theories with polynomial actions, quantum corrections introduced solely as…
Quantum field theory offers physicists a tremendously wide range of application; it is both a language with which a vast variety of physical processes can be discussed and also it provides a model for fundamental physics, the so-called…