Kitcher's Explanatory Unification, Kaluza-Klein Theories, and the Normative Aspect of Higher Dimensional Unification in Physics (2012)
I examine the relation between explanation and unification in both the original Kaluza--Klein theory, which originated in the works of Theodor Kaluza and Oskar Klein in the 1920s, and in the modern Kaluza--Klein theories which date back to the late 1970s and which are still considered by the majority of the physics community to be the best hope for a complete unified theory of all fundamental interactions. I use the conclusions of this case study to assess the merits of Philip Kitcher's account of explanation as unification. I also draw lessons about physicists' pursuit of the higher dimensional unification of the fundamental forces of nature.
...MoreSimilar Citations
Thesis
Karaca, Koray;
(2010)
Historical and Conceptual Foundations of the Higher Dimensional Unification Program in Physics
(/isis/citation/CBB001561041/)
Thesis
Vanderburgh, William L.;
(2001)
Dark matters in contemporary astrophysics: A case study in theory choice and evidential reasoning
(/isis/citation/CBB001562645/)
Article
Katzir, Shaul;
(2003)
From Explanation to Description: Molecular and Phenomenological Theories of Piezoelectricity
(/isis/citation/CBB000700631/)
Book
Cannavo, Salvator;
(2009)
Quantum Theory: A Philosopher's Overview
(/isis/citation/CBB001032941/)
Article
Steven Tester;
(2016)
Nature, Knowledge, and Scientific Theories in G. C. Lichtenberg’s Reflections on Physics
(/isis/citation/CBB616528133/)
Article
Toader, Iulian D.;
(2013)
Concept Formation and Scientific Objectivity: Weyl's Turn against Husserl
(/isis/citation/CBB001320797/)
Article
Thalos, Mariam;
(2002)
Explanation is a Genus: An Essay on the Varieties of Scientific Explanation
(/isis/citation/CBB000202904/)
Article
Gauld, Colin F.;
(2010)
Newton's Investigation of the Resistance to Moving Bodies in Continuous Fluids and the Nature of “Frontier Science”
(/isis/citation/CBB001032770/)
Book
Leunissen, Mariska;
(2010)
Explanation and Teleology in Aristotle's Science of Nature
(/isis/citation/CBB001220104/)
Article
Manning, Gideon;
(2012)
Analogy and Falsification in Descartes' Physics
(/isis/citation/CBB001221698/)
Article
Diederik Aerts;
Massimiliano Sassoli de Bianchi;
Sandro Sozzo;
Tomas Veloz;
(2020)
On the Conceptuality Interpretation of Quantum and Relativity Theories
(/isis/citation/CBB847601811/)
Article
Jansson, Lina;
(2013)
Newton's “satis est”: A New Explanatory Role for Laws
(/isis/citation/CBB001213357/)
Chapter
Eintalu., Jüri;
(2001)
Outsolutions in Physical Theories. Physical Considerations
(/isis/citation/CBB000102693/)
Chapter
Nersessian, Nancy J.;
(2001)
Concept formation and commensurability
(/isis/citation/CBB000102881/)
Essay Review
Folse, Henry;
(2014)
[Essay review]
(/isis/citation/CBB001566824/)
Article
Ducheyne, Steffen;
(2009)
Understanding (in) Newton's Argument for Universal Gravitation
(/isis/citation/CBB001230068/)
Article
Mike D. Schneider;
(2022)
Betting on Future Physics
(/isis/citation/CBB517395815/)
Book
Gasperini, Maurizio;
Maharana, J.;
Veneziano, G.;
(2008)
String Theory and Fundamental Interactions: Gabriele Veneziano and Theoretical Physics: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
(/isis/citation/CBB001024213/)
Article
Halpern, Paul;
(2007)
Klein, Einstein, and Five-Dimensional Unification
(/isis/citation/CBB000850201/)
Book
Kragh, Helge;
(2011)
Higher Speculations: Grand Theories and Failed Revolutions in Physics and Cosmology
(/isis/citation/CBB001022739/)
Be the first to comment!