1988/09/01 by FRITZ ROHRLICH, F. Rohrlich · 1 citation
Arts and Humanities · Physics and Astronomy · #Philosophy and History of Science #Quantum Mechanics and Applications
paper · doi:10.1093/bjps/39.3.295
It is demonstrated that the reduction of a physical theory S to another one, T, in the sense that S can be derived from T holds in general only for the mathematical framework. The interpretation of S and the associated central terms cannot all be derived from those of T because of the qualitative differences between the cognitive levels of S and T. Their cognitively autonomous status leads to an epistemic as well as an ontological pluralism. This pluralism is consistent with the unity of nature in the sense of a substantive monism.