Against fields

作者：Lazarovici Dustin^*

来源：European Journal for Philosophy of Science, 2018, 8(2): 145-170.

DOI：10.1007/s13194-017-0179-z

• Classical electrodynamics
• Relativity
• Fields
• Action at a distance
• Primitive ontology

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.

• 出版日期2018-5