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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

176727

Structural explanations in Minkowski spacetime

which account of models?

Mauro Dorato Laura Felline

pp. 193-207

Abstract

In this paper we argue that structural explanations are an effective way of explaining well-known relativistic phenomena like length contraction and time dilation, and then try to understand how this can be possible by looking at the literature on scientific models. In particular, we ask whether and how a model like that provided by Minkowski spacetime can be said to represent the physical world, in such a way that it can successfully explain physical phenomena structurally. We conclude by claiming that a partial isomorphic approach to scientific representation can supply an answer only if supplemented by a robust injection of pragmatic factors.

Publication details

Published in:

Petkov Vesselin (2010) Space, time, and spacetime: physical and philosophical implications of Minkowski's unification of space and time. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 193-207

DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-13538-5_9

Full citation:

Dorato Mauro, Felline Laura (2010) „Structural explanations in Minkowski spacetime: which account of models?“, In: V. Petkov (ed.), Space, time, and spacetime, Dordrecht, Springer, 193–207.