Intuitions in physics

Synthese 190 (15):2959-2980 (2013)
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Abstract

This paper is an exploration of the role of intuition in physics. The ways in which intuition is appealed to in physics are not well understood. To the best of my knowledge, there is no analysis of the different contexts in which we might appeal to intuition in physics, nor is there any analysis of the different potential uses to which intuition might be put. In this paper I look to provide data that goes some way to giving a sense of the different contexts in which intuition is appealed to in physics. As I note in the conclusion, there is still much work to be done but I hope that the work here provides us with a first step in the journey to properly understand the use to which intuitions are put in physics and science more generally

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Jonathan Tallant
Nottingham University

Citations of this work

How “Intuition” Exploded.James Andow - 2015 - Metaphilosophy 46 (2):189-212.
Ordinary Meaning and Consilience of Evidence.Justin Sytsma - 2023 - In Stefan Magen & Karolina Prochownik, Advances in Experimental Philosophy of Law. New York, NY: Bloomsbury Academic.

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References found in this work

A Defense of Presentism.Ned Markosian - 2004 - Oxford Studies in Metaphysics 1:47-82.
What is Cantor's Continuum Problem?Kurt Gödel - 1947 - The American Mathematical Monthly 54 (9):515--525.
X*—Mathematical Intuition.Charles Parsons - 1980 - Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society 80 (1):145-168.
Spacetime Visualisation and the Intelligibility of Physical Theories.Henk W. de Regt - 2001 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 32 (2):243-265.

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