Robert W. Batterman
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195146479
- eISBN:
- 9780199833078
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195146476.003.0006
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
This chapter discusses limiting correspondence relations between the wave theory of light and the ray theory of light. The limit is singular and there is no reductive relation between the theories. ...
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This chapter discusses limiting correspondence relations between the wave theory of light and the ray theory of light. The limit is singular and there is no reductive relation between the theories. The focus is on the particular problem of understanding certain universal features of rainbows. The fruitfulness of studying this singular limit is demonstrated. The main conclusion of this chapter is that the fundamental theory (the wave theory) turns out to be explanatorily deficient and a new (asymptotic) explanatory theory characterizes the asymptotic borderland between the two theories.Less
This chapter discusses limiting correspondence relations between the wave theory of light and the ray theory of light. The limit is singular and there is no reductive relation between the theories. The focus is on the particular problem of understanding certain universal features of rainbows. The fruitfulness of studying this singular limit is demonstrated. The main conclusion of this chapter is that the fundamental theory (the wave theory) turns out to be explanatorily deficient and a new (asymptotic) explanatory theory characterizes the asymptotic borderland between the two theories.
Robert W. Batterman
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195146479
- eISBN:
- 9780199833078
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195146476.003.0007
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
This chapter discusses limiting correspondence relations between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. The semiclassical limit is singular and no reductive relation obtains between these two ...
More
This chapter discusses limiting correspondence relations between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. The semiclassical limit is singular and no reductive relation obtains between these two theories. It is argued that the fundamental theory (quantum mechanics) is explanatorily deficient in that it cannot fully account for aspects of the asymptotic borderland between classical and quantum mechanics.Less
This chapter discusses limiting correspondence relations between quantum mechanics and classical mechanics. The semiclassical limit is singular and no reductive relation obtains between these two theories. It is argued that the fundamental theory (quantum mechanics) is explanatorily deficient in that it cannot fully account for aspects of the asymptotic borderland between classical and quantum mechanics.
Robert W. Batterman
- Published in print:
- 2001
- Published Online:
- November 2003
- ISBN:
- 9780195146479
- eISBN:
- 9780199833078
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
- DOI:
- 10.1093/0195146476.003.0001
- Subject:
- Philosophy, Philosophy of Science
This chapter introduces a number of key concepts that are important throughout the book. It offers an informal discussion of the nature of universality; an important, related, distinction between ...
More
This chapter introduces a number of key concepts that are important throughout the book. It offers an informal discussion of the nature of universality; an important, related, distinction between types of explanatory why‐questions; and a distinction between kinds of potential reductive relations between theories. I provide a broad overview of the role asymptotic reasoning plays in the proper understanding of explanation, reduction, and emergence.Less
This chapter introduces a number of key concepts that are important throughout the book. It offers an informal discussion of the nature of universality; an important, related, distinction between types of explanatory why‐questions; and a distinction between kinds of potential reductive relations between theories. I provide a broad overview of the role asymptotic reasoning plays in the proper understanding of explanation, reduction, and emergence.
