A Husserlian ontology of the science of physics
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2026
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| _version_ | 1866913176116789248 |
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| author | Landgrebe, Jobst Smith, Barry |
| author_facet | Landgrebe, Jobst Smith, Barry |
| contents | Since 1939, when Wigner published his proposal to define particles via symmetries expressed as algebraic groups, we have seen a long stream of attempts to formulate an ontology of matter based on mathematics. It has become apparent that such attempts must fail, and more particularly that we cannot derive an ontology of matter from the Standard Model on the basis of quantum field theory. We briefly recapitulate the reasons for this and demonstrate how the philosophy of physics has become scholasticised through a series of vain attempts to obtain a coherent ontology of matter. Here we propose an alternative approach in the form of an ontology of the science of physics. It draws on a framework developed by Husserl which admits not only real material entities but also the idealities which physicists make use of in their thinking. We specify the upper level of this ontology, which addresses the way in which physicists use mathematics when conducting their enquiries. This ontology provides a new perspective concerning the dilemmas of modern physics, including the measurement problem. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2606_00805 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | A Husserlian ontology of the science of physics Landgrebe, Jobst Smith, Barry History and Philosophy of Physics Since 1939, when Wigner published his proposal to define particles via symmetries expressed as algebraic groups, we have seen a long stream of attempts to formulate an ontology of matter based on mathematics. It has become apparent that such attempts must fail, and more particularly that we cannot derive an ontology of matter from the Standard Model on the basis of quantum field theory. We briefly recapitulate the reasons for this and demonstrate how the philosophy of physics has become scholasticised through a series of vain attempts to obtain a coherent ontology of matter. Here we propose an alternative approach in the form of an ontology of the science of physics. It draws on a framework developed by Husserl which admits not only real material entities but also the idealities which physicists make use of in their thinking. We specify the upper level of this ontology, which addresses the way in which physicists use mathematics when conducting their enquiries. This ontology provides a new perspective concerning the dilemmas of modern physics, including the measurement problem. |
| title | A Husserlian ontology of the science of physics |
| topic | History and Philosophy of Physics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.00805 |