The Metaphysics of Quantities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Wolff
Keyword(s):  
Theory Of Measurement ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Numerical Representation ◽  
Infinite Domain ◽  
Metaphysics Of Science ◽  
Formal Requirements ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Physical Quantities ◽  
Abstract Criterion ◽  
Philosophical Understanding

This book articulates and defends a new and original answer to two questions: What are physical quantities and what makes them quantitative? This novel position—substantival structuralism—says that quantitativeness is an irreducible feature of particular attributes, and quantitative attributes are best understood as substantival structured spaces. Physical quantities like mass, momentum, or temperature play an important role in formulating laws of nature and in testing scientific theories. It is therefore important to have a clear philosophical understanding of what makes these attributes special. Traditional views of quantities have either suggested that quantities are determinables, that is, attributes that require determination by magnitudes, or that quantities are in some sense numerical, but neither view is satisfactory. The book shows how to use the representational theory of measurement to provide a better, more abstract criterion for quantitativeness: only attributes whose numerical representation has a high degree of uniqueness are quantitative. The best ontology for quantities is offered by a form of sophisticated substantivalism applied to quantities as structured spaces. Substantivalism, because an infinite domain is required to satisfy the formal requirements of quantitativeness; structured spaces, because they contain fundamental relations; sophisticated substantivalism because the identity of positions in such spaces is irrelevant. The resulting view is a form structuralism about quantities. The topic of the book falls squarely in the metaphysics of science, with contributions to general metaphysics and philosophy of science.

The Fundamentalist Vision

2020 ◽  
pp. 211-214
Author(s):  
Theodore Sider
Keyword(s):  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Structural Realism ◽  
Ultimate Reality ◽  
Fundamental Nature ◽  
Metaphysics Of Science

A brief synoptic conclusion. When our aim is a distinctive account of ultimate reality the proper postmodal tool is that of fundamentality. With that tool we can articulate a "fundamentalist vision": an account of the fundamental nature of the facts and laws in the domain in question. This conception of the metaphysics of science fits a certain realist outlook, and undermines some forms of structuralism: nomic essentialism and structural realism (though not comparativism). But the vision faces serious challenges having to do with arbitrariness: arbitrariness in the constituents of the fundamental facts, and arbitrariness in the laws of nature.

scholarly journals Metaphysics of Science as Naturalized Metaphysics

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Esfeld
Keyword(s):  
Quantum Theory ◽  
Quantum Physics ◽  
Natural Philosophy ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Newtonian Mechanics ◽  
Metaphysics Of Science ◽  
The World ◽  
Naturalized Metaphysics ◽  
Metaphysics Of Time

This chapter outlines a metaphysics of science in the sense of a naturalized metaphysics. It considers in the first place the interplay of physics and metaphysics in Newtonian mechanics, then goes into the issues for the metaphysics of time that relativity physics raises, shows that what one considers as the referent of quantum theory depends on metaphysical considerations, and finally explains how the stance that one takes with respect to objective modality and laws of nature shapes the options that are available for an ontology of quantum physics. In that way, this chapter seeks to make a case for a natural philosophy that treats physics and metaphysics as inseparable in the enquiry into the constitution of the world, there being neither a neo-positivist way of deducing metaphysics from the formalisms of physical theories, nor a neo-rationalist realm of investigation for metaphysics that is independent of physics.

scholarly journals The analytic hierarchy and analytic network measurement processes: Applications to decisions under Risk

2007 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-196
Author(s):  
Thomas L. Saaty
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Scientific Practice ◽  
Theory Of Measurement ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Decisions Under Risk ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Ratio Scales ◽  
Numerical Representations

Mathematics applications largely depend on scientific practice. In science measurement depends on the use of scales, most frequently ratio scales. A ratio scale there is applied to measure various physical attributes and assumes a zero and an arbitrary unit used uniformly throughout an application. Different ratio scales are combined by means of formulas. The formulas apply within structures involving variables and their relations under natural law. The meaning and use of the outcome is then interpreted according to the judgment of an expert as to how well it meets understanding and experience or satisfies laws of nature that are always there. Science derives results objectively, but interprets their significance is subjectively. In decision making, there are no set laws to characterize structures in which relations are predetermined for every decision. Understanding is needed to structure a problem and then also to use judgments to represent importance and preference quantitatively so that a best outcome can be derived by combining and trading off different factors or attributes. From numerical representations of judgments, priority scales are derived and synthesized according to given rules of composition. In decision making the priority scales can only be derived objectively after subjective judgments are made. The process is the opposite of what we do in science. This paper summarizes a mathematical theory of measurement in decision making and applies it to real-life examples of complex decisions.

scholarly journals LT - contradiction matrix

2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-102
Author(s):  
Dušan Rajić
Keyword(s):  
Problem Solving ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Final Solution ◽  
Ideal Solutions ◽  
Descriptive Theory ◽  
To Come ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Physical Quantities ◽  
Dialectical Principle ◽  
The Ideal

Altschuller's Contradiction Matrix and Bartini-Kuznetsov's LT - Table represent two different tools for solving inventive problems based on the same dialectical principle. It starts from the premise that there are contradictions at the root of every problem. Although both tools are designed to make it easier to come up with the Ideal Final Solution (IFS), in practice they often come up with optimal rather than ideal solutions. One of the reasons for this phenomenon can be attributed to the subjectivity of the innovator arising from the logical-descriptive Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TIPS / rus. TRIZ). The second reason is related to the existence of unidentified laws of nature shown in the LT table of physical quantities. The integration of these two tools yields an effective LT contradiction matrix as a new inventology tool, which does not have the disadvantages of the individual tools from which it arose.

Quantities

2020 ◽  
pp. 119-176
Author(s):  
Theodore Sider
Keyword(s):  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Numerical Representation ◽  
Strong Laws ◽  
Quantitative Properties ◽  
Comparative Relations

Quantitative properties are those that come in degrees, which we represent with numbers. A metaphysical account of quantity - in my view an account of the fundamental quantitative features - must explain the possibility of numerical representation; and such an account will have implications for the laws of nature in which quantitative properties figure. One such account is comparativism, the view that the fundamental quantitative features are comparative relations. Comparativism passes a minimum test (which certain other accounts fail): enabling strong laws of nature. But questions arise about the kinds of laws it enables. Hartry Field's insistence on "intrinsic" laws is examined, as well as David John Baker's argument that comparativism undermines determinism. In the end a pessimistic conclusion emerges: any account of the fundamental quantitative features, whether comparativist or no, seems to require unattractively arbitrary choices.

scholarly journals Numerical Simulation of Flow over Non-Linearly Stretching Sheet Considering Chemical Reaction and Magnetic Field

Mathematics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1496
Author(s):  
Mohsen Razzaghi ◽  
Fatemeh Baharifard ◽  
Kourosh Parand
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Chemical Reaction ◽  
Good Accuracy ◽  
Stretching Sheet ◽  
Finite Domain ◽  
Physical Parameters ◽  
Governing Equations ◽  
Infinite Domain ◽  
Degree Of Convergence ◽  
High Degree

The purpose of this paper is to investigate a system of differential equations related to the viscous flow over a stretching sheet. It is assumed that the intended environment for the flow includes a chemical reaction and a magnetic field. The governing equations are defined on the semi-finite domain and a numerical scheme, namely rational Gegenbauer collocation method is applied to solve it. In this method, the problem is solved in its main interval (semi-infinite domain) and there is no need to truncate it to a finite domain or change the domain of the problem. By carefully examining the effect of important physical parameters of the problem and comparing the obtained results with the answers of other methods, we show that despite the simplicity of the proposed method, it has a high degree of convergence and good accuracy.

scholarly journals Can Elements of Intellectual Capital Improve Business Sustainability?—The Perspective of Managers of SMEs in Poland

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elwira Gross-Gołacka ◽  
Marta Kusterka-Jefmańska ◽  
Bartłomiej Jefmański
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Theory Of Measurement ◽  
Ordinal Scale ◽  
Business Sustainability ◽  
Degree Of Coherence ◽  
Medium Enterprises ◽  
Sustainable Competitive Advantages ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Impact

Many organizations choose business sustainability to meet environmental, social, and financial demands to ensure responsible and long-term success. In order to achieve this, enterprises have to fully and optimally apply their resources. Intellectual capital is one of their most important resources creating market value and reinforcing sustainable competitive advantages. The main goal of the paper is to indicate which elements of the intellectual capital of small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland have the greatest impact on their sustainable development in the opinions of managers. The study took into account 1041 economic entities. Managers of small and medium enterprises operating in Poland have been asked to assess the elements of intellectual capital. The paper utilizes a new approach to the importance assessment of the impact of each characteristic on business sustainability. It is based on intuitionistic fuzzy sets. The proposed method is especially useful when variables are measured on an ordinal scale. In accordance with the classical theory of measurement, it does not allow the majority of arithmetic calculations to be performed. Based on the results of the research it has been determined that the most important factors are those which constitute human capital. Moreover, the observation has been made that there is a high degree of coherence of opinions expressed by managers of small and medium enterprises. The results of the research can be applied by both managers of enterprises in managing intellectual capital and employees of companies, by increasing their awareness of the topic of the influence of intellectual capital on business sustainability.

Reviews

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 266-268
Keyword(s):  
Field Theory ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Scientific Theories ◽  
Content Type ◽  
P Content ◽  
The World ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Biblical Faith ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Philosophical Understanding

Summary <p content-type="flush left">This book deals with one of the most important focus points of Pannenberg’s theology, the relationship between the biblical faith in God as creator and sustainer of the world, and the modern scientific and philosophical understanding of the world. The eleven articles expand and discuss Pannenberg’s insistence on a deep-rooted connection between the biblical view of reality as something evolving over time and the latest scientific theories. This is done through discussions of subjects like space, time, contingency vs. laws of nature, field theory and evolution. The articles also show how much scientific insights inform Pannenberg’s theology.

Tissue section lifting for electron microscopy

1978 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-87
Author(s):  
Adrian F. van Dellen
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Tissue Culture ◽  
Organ System ◽  
Surrounding Tissue ◽  
Paraffin Sections ◽  
Surface Areas ◽  
Specific Determination ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Accuracy And Repeatability

The morphologic pathologist may require information on the ultrastructure of a non-specific lesion seen under the light microscope before he can make a specific determination. Such lesions, when caused by infectious disease agents, may be sparsely distributed in any organ system. Tissue culture systems, too, may only have widely dispersed foci suitable for ultrastructural study. In these situations, when only a few, small foci in large tissue areas are useful for electron microscopy, it is advantageous to employ a methodology which rapidly selects a single tissue focus that is expected to yield beneficial ultrastructural data from amongst the surrounding tissue. This is in essence what "LIFTING" accomplishes. We have developed LIFTING to a high degree of accuracy and repeatability utilizing the Microlift (Fig 1), and have successfully applied it to tissue culture monolayers, histologic paraffin sections, and tissue blocks with large surface areas that had been initially fixed for either light or electron microscopy.

Electron Microscopy in Molecular Biology

1967 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 2-3
Author(s):  
Cecil E. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Molecular Biology ◽  
Noise Level ◽  
Molecular Structures ◽  
Material Structure ◽  
The Arts ◽  
Shadow Casting ◽  
Electron Image ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Very High

The visualization of organic macromolecules such as proteins, nucleic acids, viruses and virus components has reached its high degree of effectiveness owing to refinements and reliability of instruments and to the invention of methods for enhancing the structure of these materials within the electron image. The latter techniques have been most important because what can be seen depends upon the molecular and atomic character of the object as modified which is rarely evident in the pristine material. Structure may thus be displayed by the arts of positive and negative staining, shadow casting, replication and other techniques. Enhancement of contrast, which delineates bounds of isolated macromolecules has been effected progressively over the years as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 by these methods. We now look to the future wondering what other visions are waiting to be seen. The instrument designers will need to exact from the arts of fabrication the performance that theory has prescribed as well as methods for phase and interference contrast with explorations of the potentialities of very high and very low voltages. Chemistry must play an increasingly important part in future progress by providing specific stain molecules of high visibility, substrates of vanishing “noise” level and means for preservation of molecular structures that usually exist in a solvated condition.

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