2009

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http://hdl.handle.net/2003/25944

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The publication of the journal has ceased

We regret that we have to stop the edition of the Online Journal "Physics and Philosophy", due to lack of personal assistance, lack of financial support and problems to find referees.

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    Experimental Noise, Idealizations and the Classical-Quantum Relation
    (2010-06-03T18:32:45Z) von Oppen, Gebhard
    Classical dynamics and the classical concept of space-time reality is based on the assumption that the objects of physics can be observed continuously. The discrete structure of matter (atoms) and fields (quanta), however, implies that the process of observation is quantized. In this paper we discuss the consequences of this paradigm change from continuity to discreteness and from determinism to chance. By taking into account the quantized structure of observation, we are led to the conclusion that the classical concept of reality has to be replaced by a quantum concept of observability. It implies that quantum dynamics is not a generalization of classical dynamics. Rather, the two theories apply to complementary idealizations of nature representing opposite extremes on a scale of observability. They are related by correspondence rules. Both theories disregard experimental noise. Statistical and thermal noise provide the experimental foundation for statistical physics.
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    Vagueness in Philosophy -- "Unbestimmtheit" in Physics
    (2010-05-27T19:12:55Z) Pirner, Hans J.
    Unbestimmtheit is discussed with three connotations: indefiniteness-vagueness, uncertainty and indeterminacy. Vagueness is a term in philosophy, the two other meanings are found in physics. I will study several physics cases: experimental errors, natural borderline cases, quantum indeterminacy, uncertainty and indeterminacy in statistical and stochastic physics. Characteristically, the three classes are often found to be mixed. A very sketchy discussion concludes the article: How should one handle Unbestimmtheit? When and how should one clarify, classify, define limits, use fuzzy logic?