Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Invariance and Objectivity

  • Published:
Foundations of Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Scientific knowledge should not only be true, it should be as objective as possible. It should refer to a reality independent of any subject. What can we use as a criterion of objectivity? Intersubjectivity (i.e., intersubjective understandability and intersubjective testability) is necessary, but not sufficient. Other criteria are: independence of reference system, independence of method, non-conventionality. Is there some common trait? Yes, there is: invariance under some specified transformations. Thus, we say: A proposition is objective only if its truth is invariant against a change in the conditions under which it was formulated. We give illustrations from geometry, perception, neurobiology, relativity theory, and quantum theory. Such an objectivist position has many advantages.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Vollmer, G.: Evolutionäre Erkenntnistheorie. Hirzel, Stuttgart (1975), 82002

    Google Scholar 

  2. Rescher, N.: A Useful Inheritance. Evolutionary Aspects of the Theory of Knowledge. University Press of America, Lanham (1990), Chap. 6

    Google Scholar 

  3. Abbott, E.A., Stewart, I.: The Annotated Flatland. Perseus, Cambridge (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Stewart, I.: Flatterland: Like Flatland, Only More So. Macmillan, New York (2001) (in German: Flacherland. München: Beck 2003; Reinbek: Rowohlt 2004)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gamow, G.: One, Two, Three … Infinity (1947), Chaps. 9 and 10

  6. Rucker, R.: The Fourth Dimension. Toward A Geometry of Higher Reality. Houghton Mifflin, Boston (1984) (in German: Die Wunderwelt der vierten Dimension. Bern: Scherz 1988, 21990)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Burger, D.: Bolland. Een Roman von Gekromde Ruimten en Uitdijend Heelal. s’-Gravenhage, Blommendaal (1975) (in English: Dionys Burger: Sphereland. Barnes & Noble 1983; in German: Silvestergespräche eines Sechsecks. Köln: Aulis 1965, 2001)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Gauß, C.F.: Disquisitiones generales circa superficies curvas. Werke IV, 217–258 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Beltrami, E.: Teoria fondamentale degli spazii di curvatura costante. Ann. Mat., Ser II 2, 232–255 (1868)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. von Helmholtz, H.: Über den Ursprung und die Bedeutung der geometrischen Axiome (1870). Vorträge und Reden. Braunschweig 31884, II. 1–31

  11. Reichenbach, H.: Experience and Prediction. An Analysis of the Foundations and the Structure of Knowledge. Chicago University Press, Chicago (1938), 71970 (in German: Erfahrung und Prognose. Gesammelte Werke, Band 4. Wiesbaden: Vieweg 1983)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Fritzsch, H.: The Fundamental Constants: A Mystery of Physics. World Scientific, New Jersey (2009) (in German 2005)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  13. Planck, M.: Die Einheit des physikalischen Weltbildes (The unity of the physical world picture) (1908). In: Vorträge und Erinnerungen (1933) (many editions)

  14. Schilpp, P.A. (ed.): The Philosophy of Karl Popper. Open Court, La Salle (1974), 110 pp

    Google Scholar 

  15. Daston, L., Galison, P.: Objectivity. Zone Books, New York (2007) (in German: Objektivität. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp 2007)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Kramer, E.E.: The Nature and Growth of Modern Mathematics. Princeton University Press, Princeton (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Weyl, H.: Philosophy of Mathematics and Natural Science. Princeton University Press, Princeton (1949), Chap. 13: The problem of relativity (in German: Handbuch der Philosophie 1928; München: Oldenbourg 1966)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  18. von Holst, E., Mittelstaedt, H.: Das Reafferenzprinzip. Naturwissenschaften 37, 464–476 (1950)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Bischof, N.: Psychophysik der Raumwahrnehmung. In: Metzger, W., Erke, H. (eds.) Handbuch der Psychologie, pp. 307–408. Psychologie, Göttingen (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Bischof, N.: Optic-vestibular orientation to the vertical. In: Kornhuber, H.H. (ed.) Handbook of Sensory Physiology, Part 2, vol. VI/2, pp. 155–190. Springer, Berlin (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Margenau, H.: Einstein’s conception of reality. In: Schilpp, P.A. (ed.) Albert Einstein: Philosopher-Scientist, pp. 243–268. Open Court, LaSalle (1949) (in German: Stuttgart: Kohlhammer 1955; Braunschweig: Vieweg 1979, 151–172)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Dehnen, H.: Zur allgemein-relativistischen Dynamik. Ann. Phys. 7(13), 101–108 (1964)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  23. Synge, J.L.: Relativity: The General Theory. North-Holland, Amsterdam (1960)

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  24. Weisskopf, V.: Die Jahrhundert-Entdeckung: Quantentheorie, p. 44. Fischer, Frankfurt (1992) (my translation; in French: La révolution des quanta. Paris: Hachette 1989)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Mittelstaedt, P., Busch, P.: The problem of objectification in quantum mechanics. Found. Phys. 21, 889–904 (1991)

    Article  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mittelstaedt, P., Busch, P.: Constitution of objects in classical mechanics and in quantum mechanics. Int. J. Theor. Phys. 34, 1615–1626 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Mittelstaedt, P., Busch, P.: The constitution of objects in classical physics and in quantum physics. In: Bitbol, M., et al. (eds.) Constituting Objectivity, pp. 169–181. Springer, Berlin (2009)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  28. Mittelstaedt, P., Busch, P.: Cognition versus constitution of objects: From Kant to modern physics. Found. Phys. 39, 847–859 (2009)

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Born, M.: Physical reality. Philos. Q. 3, 139–149 (1953) reprinted in Max Born: Physics in my generation. London: Pergamon 1956, pp. 158–163

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Braunschweig, Germany

    Gerhard Vollmer

Authors
  1. Gerhard Vollmer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gerhard Vollmer.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vollmer, G. Invariance and Objectivity. Found Phys 40, 1651–1667 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-010-9471-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10701-010-9471-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation