The Physics and Metaphysics of Pure Shape Dynamics
History and Philosophy of Physics
2022-03-08 v1
Abstract
The goal of this essay is twofold. First, it provides a quick look at the foundations of modern relational mechanics by tracing its development from Julian Barbour and Bruno Bertotti's original ideas until present-day's pure shape dynamics. Secondly, it discusses the most appropriate metaphysics for pure shape dynamics, showing that relationalism is more of a nuanced thesis rather than an elusive one. The chapter ends with a brief assessment of the prospects of pure shape dynamics in light of quantum physics.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.2203.02773,
title = {The Physics and Metaphysics of Pure Shape Dynamics},
author = {Antonio Vassallo and Pedro Naranjo and Tim Koslowski},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2203.02773},
year = {2022}
}
Comments
28 pages. To appear in A. Vassallo (Ed.), The Foundations of Spacetime Physics: Philosophical Perspectives. Routledge