Event Detail
Mon Oct 9, 2017 Howison Library 4–6 PM |
Townsend Visitor Tim Maudlin (NYU) The Mathematics and Ontology of Classical Electro-Magnetic Theory |
Mathematical physics employs mathematical objects to represent physical entities. Naively, one might expect to be able to read off a physical ontology from the mathematical formalism. But there are many conceptual and technical roadblocks for any such strategy. I will consider first what it is to articulate a physical theory that is ontologically clear. Formalizing the presentation of a physical theory in a standard way can help avoid ambiguities and unclarity. I will exposit how to do this and begin to discuss classical electro-magnetism.