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Why More Is Different

Philosophical Issues in Condensed Matter Physics and Complex Systems

  • Book
  • © 2015

Overview

Editors:
  1. Brigitte Falkenburg

    1. Faculty of Human Sciences and Theology, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  2. Margaret Morrison

    1. Trinity College, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

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    You can also search for this editor in PubMed   Google Scholar

  • A unique look at the surprisingly many philosophical questions pertinent to condensed matter physics
  • Tackles the key issues of reduction, emergence and reversibility as they relate to various condensed matter phenomena
  • Written by experts from both physics and philosophy
  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

Part of the book series: The Frontiers Collection (FRONTCOLL)

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Table of contents (13 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-x
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  2. Introduction

    • Brigitte Falkenburg, Margaret Morrison
    Pages 1-10

  4. Emergence

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 89-89
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    2. Why Is More Different?

      • Margaret Morrison
      Pages 91-114

    3. Autonomy and Scales

      • Robert Batterman
      Pages 115-135

    4. More is Different…Sometimes: Ising Models, Emergence, and Undecidability

      • Paul W. Humphreys
      Pages 137-152

    5. Neither Weak, Nor Strong? Emergence and Functional Reduction

      • Sorin Bangu
      Pages 153-166

  5. Parts and Wholes

    1. Front Matter

      Pages 167-167
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    2. Stability, Emergence and Part-Whole Reduction

      • Andreas Hüttemann, Reimer Kühn, Orestis Terzidis
      Pages 169-200

    3. Between Rigor and Reality: Many-Body Models in Condensed Matter Physics

      • Axel Gelfert
      Pages 201-226

    4. How Do Quasi-Particles Exist?

      • Brigitte Falkenburg
      Pages 227-250

    5. A Mechanistic Reading of Quantum Laser Theory

      • Meinard Kuhlmann
      Pages 251-271

  6. Back Matter

    Pages 273-280
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Keywords

About this book

The physics of condensed matter, in contrast to quantum physics or cosmology, is not traditionally associated with deep philosophical questions. However, as science - largely thanks to more powerful computers - becomes capable of analysing and modelling ever more complex many-body systems, basic questions of philosophical relevance arise. Questions about the emergence of structure, the nature of cooperative behaviour, the implications of the second law, the quantum-classical transition and many other issues. This book is a collection of essays by leading physicists and philosophers. Each investigates one or more of these issues, making use of examples from modern condensed matter research. Physicists and philosophers alike will find surprising and stimulating ideas in these pages.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Faculty of Human Sciences and Theology, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany

    Brigitte Falkenburg

  • Trinity College, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Margaret Morrison

About the editors

Prof. Brigitte Falkenburg
TU Dortmund, Germany

Prof. Margaret Morrison
University of Toronto, Canada.

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