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Against fields

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Abstract

Using the example of classical electrodynamics, I argue that the concept of fields as mediators of particle interactions is fundamentally flawed and reflects a misguided attempt to retrieve Newtonian concepts in relativistic theories. This leads to various physical and metaphysical problems that are discussed in detail. In particular, I emphasize that physics has not found a satisfying solution to the self-interaction problem in the context of the classical field theory. To demonstrate the superiority of a pure particle ontology, I defend the direct interaction theory of Wheeler and Feynman against recent criticism and argue that it provides the most cogent formulation of classical electrodynamics.

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Notes

  1. This seems to be the basis of the inconsistency claim in Frisch (2004).

  2. I would strongly contest the common believe that the situation is much better in quantum theory, however not here.

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Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Michael Esfeld, Dirk-André Deckert and Mario Hubert for helpful comments and discussions. I am also grateful to Detlef Dürr, whose teachings inspired great parts of my research. This work was supported by the Cogito Foundation, grant no. 15-106-R and by a Feodor Lynen Research Fellowship of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.

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  1. Faculté des lettres, Section de philosophie, Université de Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Dustin Lazarovici

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Lazarovici, D. Against fields. Euro Jnl Phil Sci 8, 145–170 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-017-0179-z

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