Philosophy of Physics: What Is It & How Is It Different?

[ajay mahajan]

what is the Philosophy of Physics?
Is it different from the philosophy of science?

 

[NickJ]

Phil Physics vs. Phil Science

Generally, inquiries in philosophy of physics concern foundational issues in the sciences. A "foundational issue" is a problem in the "foundations" of a particular science. For instance, the measurement problem is a foundational issue in quantum mechanics; the compatibility of general relativity and quantum field theory is a foundational issue for those two sciences; the justification of the second law of thermodynamics is a foundational issue in statistical mechanics; the proper understanding of the concept of a species is a foundational issue in biology; the justification of the principle of natural selection is a foundational issue in evolutionary biology; and so on. Philosophy of physics questions tend to be specific to a particular science; and they tend to be questions that practitioners of those science worry about in their philosophical moments but don't need to address in order to practice the science.

In contrast, inquiries in philosophy of science tend to address broader concerns that arise from thinking about science. Questions in the philosophy of science include: what does it take for something to be a scientific explanation; what is a law of nature; what is the correct measure of the degree to which a piece of evidence confirms a theory; what is the nature of a scientific theory; how does science differ from non-science; what is the best way to characterize relations between theories; and so on. Answering these questions often involves appealing to details about individual sciences and scientific practice; but generally the relevant details can be found in more than one science.

I'm sure there's lots missing from this sketch; but I think it highlights some essential differences.

 

[Architeuthis Dux]

The Philosophy of Physics is a branch of philosophy that focuses on the fundamental principles and concepts of physics. It aims to understand the nature of physical reality, the role of physics in our understanding of the world, and the relationship between physical theories and the world they describe.

One key difference between the Philosophy of Physics and the philosophy of science is that the former specifically focuses on the principles and concepts of physics, while the latter is a broader field that examines the nature of science as a whole. Additionally, the Philosophy of Physics often delves into more theoretical and abstract questions, such as the nature of space and time, while the philosophy of science may focus on more practical issues such as the scientific method and the role of experimentation.

Furthermore, the Philosophy of Physics often draws on metaphysical and epistemological theories to explore the foundations of physics, while the philosophy of science may take a more empirical and practical approach.

In summary, the Philosophy of Physics is a specialized branch of philosophy that examines the fundamental principles and concepts of physics, and it differs from the broader philosophy of science in its focus and methodology.