Philosophical Foundations of Quantum Field Theory.

Abstract

Rom Harre & Harvey Brown both of the University of Oxford: Introduction I. QUANTUM FIELD THEORY AS AN OBJECT OF PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY: TWO VIEWS: Michael Redhead, University of Cambridge: A philosopher looks at quantum field theory James T. Cushing, University of Notre Dame: Foundational problems in and methodological lessons from quantum field theory II. THE PROBLEMS OF VIRTUAL PARTICLES AND RENORMALIZATION: Robert Weingard, Rutgers University: Virtual particles and the interpretation of quantum field theory Rom Harre: Parsing the amplitudes Paul Teller, University of Illinois: Three problems of renormalization III. COVARIANCE PRINCIPLES IN QUANTUM FIELD THEORY: Gordon N. Fleming, Pennsylvania State University: Hyperplane-dependent quantized fields and Lorentz invariance Tian-yu Cao, Trinity College, Cambridge: Gauge theory and the geometrization of fundamental physics IV. MATHEMATICAL FOUNDATIONS OF QUANTUM FIELD THEORY: Ray F. Streater, King's College, London: Why should anyone want to axiomatize quantum field theory? Simon Saunders, Wolfson College, Oxford: The algebraic notation of quantum field theory.