Harvard Foundations of Physics Mini-Workshop: Infinities and Idealizations in Physics

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Tuesday, April 27, 2021
12:00pm (noon)–4:00pm (East Coast time)

Website: https://harvardfop.jacobbarandes.com/20210427iip

This is a free Zoom event (no registration fee)

The meeting ID and password will be shared with those who fill out this registration form

Questions or comments: Jacob Barandes, <lastname>(at)g.harvard.edu (organizer)

11:45–12:00 – Informal introductions
12:00–1:00 – Patricia Palacios – University of Salzburg – “The Paradox of Infinite Limits: A Realist Response”
1:00–2:00 – Elay Shech – Auburn University – “Scientific Understanding, Modal Reasoning, and (Infinite) Idealization”
2:00–3:00 – Samuel Fletcher – University of Minnesota – “Emergence, Explanation, and (Infinite) Idealization”
3:00–4:00 – Open discussion

Each talk will be 45 minutes, followed by 15 minutes for questions

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May we list your name as a participant on the website? (https://harvardfop.jacobbarandes.com/) *

Yes

What best approximates your views on infinities in physics? *

There is strong empirical support for true infinities being features of the physical world

There isn't strong empirical support yet for true infinities in the physical world, but such empirical support could exist

It should never be empirically possible to distinguish true physical infinities from sufficiently large but finite numbers

Physical infinities are not possible in principle

Agnostic

Not sure

Prefer not to say

Other:

What best approximations your views on whether nature is fundamentally discrete or continuous? *

At least some aspects of the physical world are fundamentally continuous

The physical world is fundamentally discrete

We will never be able to determine the answer empirically

The question is not well-defined

Agnostic

Not sure

Prefer not to say

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