On Absolute Units
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Dewar, Neil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6623-4529
Abstract
How may we characterise the intrinsic structure of physical quantities such as mass, length, or electric charge? This paper shows that group-theoretic methods—specifically, the notion of a free and transitive group action—provide an elegant way of characterising the structure of scalar quantities, and uses this to give an intrinsic treatment of vector quantities. It also gives a general account of how different scalar or vector quantities may be algebraically combined with one another. Finally, it uses this apparatus to give a simple intrinsic treatment of Newtonian gravitation.
Description
Keywords
5003 Philosophy, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies, 5002 History and Philosophy Of Specific Fields
Journal Title
The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0007-0882
1464-3537
1464-3537
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Chicago Press