27 found
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  1.  47
    On the paradox of reversible processes in thermodynamics.Giovanni Valente - 2019 - Synthese 196 (5):1761-1781.
    This paper discusses an argument by Norton to the effect that reversible processes in thermodynamics have paradoxical character, due to the infinite-time limit. For Norton, one can “dispel the fog of paradox” by adopting a distinction between idealizations and approximations, which he himself puts forward. Accordingly, reversible processes ought to be regarded as approximations, rather than idealizations. Here, we critically assess his proposal. In doing so, we offer a resolution of his alleged paradox based on the original work by Tatiana (...)
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  2. Lanford’s Theorem and the Emergence of Irreversibility.Jos Uffink & Giovanni Valente - 2015 - Foundations of Physics 45 (4):404-438.
    It has been a longstanding problem to show how the irreversible behaviour of macroscopic systems can be reconciled with the time-reversal invariance of these same systems when considered from a microscopic point of view. A result by Lanford shows that, under certain conditions, the famous Boltzmann equation, describing the irreversible behaviour of a dilute gas, can be obtained from the time-reversal invariant Hamiltonian equations of motion for the hard spheres model. Here, we examine how and in what sense Lanford’s theorem (...)
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  3.  95
    Relativistic Causality in Algebraic Quantum Field Theory.John Earman & Giovanni Valente - 2014 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 28 (1):1-48.
    This paper surveys the issue of relativistic causality within the framework of algebraic quantum field theory . In doing so, we distinguish various notions of causality formulated in the literature and study their relationships, and thereby we offer what we hope to be a useful taxonomy. We propose that the most direct expression of relativistic causality in AQFT is captured not by the spectrum condition but rather by the axiom of local primitive causality, in that it entails a form of (...)
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  4.  33
    The approach towards equilibrium in Lanford’s theorem.Giovanni Valente - 2014 - European Journal for Philosophy of Science 4 (3):309-335.
    This paper develops a philosophical investigation of the merits and faults of a theorem by Lanford , Lanford , Lanford for the problem of the approach towards equilibrium in statistical mechanics. Lanford’s result shows that, under precise initial conditions, the Boltzmann equation can be rigorously derived from the Hamiltonian equations of motion for a hard spheres gas in the Boltzmann-Grad limit, thereby proving the existence of a unique solution of the Boltzmann equation, at least for a very short amount of (...)
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  5. How local are local operations in local quantum field theory?Miklós Rédei & Giovanni Valente - 2010 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 41 (4):346-353.
  6.  29
    Prediction via Similarity: Biomedical Big Data and the Case of Cancer Models.Giovanni Valente, Giovanni Boniolo & Fabio Boniolo - 2023 - Philosophy and Technology 36 (1):1-20.
    In recent years, the biomedical field has witnessed the emergence of novel tools and modelling techniques driven by the rise of the so-called Big Data. In this paper, we address the issue of predictability in biomedical Big Data models of cancer patients, with the aim of determining the extent to which computationally driven predictions can be implemented by medical doctors in their clinical practice. We show that for a specific class of approaches, called k-Nearest Neighbour algorithms, the ability to draw (...)
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  7.  40
    Local disentanglement in relativistic quantum field theory.Giovanni Valente - 2013 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 44 (4):424-432.
    This paper discusses a claim by Clifton and Halvorson (2001) that, contrary to non-relativistic quantum mechanics, local operations can never destroy entanglement in relativistic quantum field theory. The impossibility of achieving local disentanglement would raise a threat for the mutual independence between microscopic subsystems. Here, we observe that Clifton and Halvorson no-go result rests on an unnecessarily strong notion of local operations, which we label absolutely local operations, and we argue that a weaker notion, namely that of relatively local operations, (...)
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  8.  36
    Is there a stability problem for Bayesian noncommutative probabilities?Giovanni Valente - 2007 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 38 (4):832-843.
  9.  30
    What Is Really Quantum in Quantum Econophysics?Gianni Arioli & Giovanni Valente - 2021 - Philosophy of Science 88 (4):665-685.
    Econophysics is a branch of economics that applies concepts and methods from physics to the financial markets. This article focuses on the approaches to quantum finance developed by Kirill Ilinski and Belal E. Baaquie to deal with the uncertainty characterizing financial time series. Allegedly, their models rest on a formal analogy between quantum mechanics and finance. In order to evaluate them, we raise the question what is really quantum in quantum econophysics. We then argue that the supposed analogy breaks in (...)
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  10. The paradox of infinite limits : a realist response.Patricia Palacios & Giovanni Valente - 2021 - In Timothy D. Lyons & Peter Vickers (eds.), Contemporary Scientific Realism: The Challenge From the History of Science. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
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  11.  24
    Taking up statistical thermodynamics: Equilibrium fluctuations and irreversibility.Giovanni Valente - 2021 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 85:176-184.
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  12.  30
    Surrogative reasoning in the sciences.Rawad El Skaf, Laura Felline, Patricia Palacios & Giovanni Valente - 2024 - Synthese 203 (4):1-11.
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  13.  61
    Can Entanglement Be Destroyed by Any Local Operation in Relativistic Quantum Field Theory?Giovanni Valente - 2010 - Philosophy of Science 77 (5):1029-1041.
    This article investigates the nature of entangled correlations in algebraic quantum field theory (AQFT). We define a notion of local disentanglement, expressing the possibility of destroying entanglement by means of local operations. Contrary to the case of ordinary quantum mechanics, local disentanglement cannot be achieved in general in relativistic quantum field theory. However, we show that if the split property holds, there exists a local operation that can destroy entanglement between spacelike-separated quantum field systems.
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  14.  26
    Restoring particle phenomenology.Giovanni Valente - 2015 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 51:97-103.
  15.  52
    Does the Reeh–Schlieder theorem violate relativistic causality?Giovanni Valente - 2014 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 48 (2):147-155.
  16.  39
    (1 other version)John von Neumann's mathematical “Utopia” in quantum theory.Giovanni Valente - 2008 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 39 (4):860-871.
    This paper surveys John von Neumann's work on the mathematical foundations of quantum theories in the light of Hilbert's Sixth Problem concerning the geometrical axiomatization of physics. We argue that in von Neumann's view geometry was so tied to logic that he ultimately developed a logical interpretation of quantum probabilities. That motivated his abandonment of Hilbert space in favor of von Neumann algebras, specifically the type II1II1 factors, as the proper limit of quantum mechanics in infinite dimensions. Finally, we present (...)
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  17.  4
    Tales of twin cities: what are climate analogues good for?Giovanni Valente, Hernán Bobadilla, Rawad El Skaf & Francesco Nappo - 2024 - European Journal for Philosophy of Science 14 (3):1-28.
    This article provides an epistemological assessment of climate analogue methods, with specific reference to the use of spatial analogues in the study of the future climate of target locations. Our contention is that, due to formal and conceptual inadequacies of geometrical dissimilarity metrics and the loss of relevant information, especially when reasoning from the physical to the socio-economical level, purported inferences from climate analogues of the spatial kind we consider here prove limited in a number of ways. Indeed, we formulate (...)
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  18.  34
    Ambiguities in order-theoretic formulations of thermodynamics.Robert Marsland Iii, Harvey R. Brown & Giovanni Valente - unknown
    Since the 1909 work of Carathéodory, formulations of thermodynamics have gained ground which highlight the role of the the binary relation of adiabatic accessibility between equilibrium states. A feature of Carathéodory's system is that the version therein of the second law contains an ambiguity about the nature of irreversible adiabatic processes, making it weaker than the traditional Kelvin-Planck statement of the law. This paper attempts first to clarify the nature of this ambiguity, by defining the arrow of time in thermodynamics (...)
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  19.  57
    Uncertainty in Integrated Assessment Modeling of Climate Change.Massimo Tavoni & Giovanni Valente - 2022 - Perspectives on Science 30 (2):321-351.
    Integrated assessment models play a major role in the science and policy of climate change. Similarly to other widely used computational tools for addressing socially relevant problems, IAMs need to account for the key uncertainties characterizing processes and socio-economic responses. In the case of climate change, these are particularly complex given the very long-term nature of climate and the deep uncertainty characterizing technological and human systems. Here we draw from philosophical discussion of mathematical modeling of social problems and review the (...)
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  20.  38
    Evidence and analogy in Archaeoastronomy.Francesco Nappo, Giulio Magli & Giovanni Valente - 2022 - Synthese 200 (6):1-25.
    This paper addresses the role of analogical reasoning in archaeoastronomy - the discipline which studies the connections between the ancient monuments and the heavens. Archaeoastronomy is a highly interdisciplinary science, placed at the border between the humanities – especially archaeology – and the scientific approach to cultural heritage. As a consequence, its scientific foundations are a delicate matter. We plan to investigate here the question of what constitutes the evidence for analogical inferences in archaeoastronomy and to what extent one can (...)
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  21.  3
    Correction to: Tales of twin cities: what are climate analogues good for?Giovanni Valente, Hernán Bobadilla, Rawad El Skaf & Francesco Nappo - 2024 - European Journal for Philosophy of Science 14 (3):1-2.
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  22.  19
    Correction to: Editorial: symmetries and asymmetries in physics.Radin Dardashti, Mathias Frisch & Giovanni Valente - 2021 - Synthese 199 (3):11179-11180.
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  23.  30
    Editorial: symmetries and asymmetries in physics.Radin Dardashti, Mathias Frisch & Giovanni Valente - 2020 - Synthese 199 (1-2):983-989.
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  24.  28
    The power of meta-analysis: a challenge for evidence-based medicine.Paola Berchialla, Daniele Chiffi, Giovanni Valente & Ari Voutilainen - 2020 - European Journal for Philosophy of Science 11 (1):1-18.
    This paper discusses the outstanding problem of replicability of empirical data in the context of recent work on meta-analysis, especially within the field of evidence-based medicine. Specifically, it deals with the methodological issue of how to determine the degrees of heterogeneity between different collected studies. After critically reviewing the standard measures used to quantify meta-analytical heterogeneity, we argue that they should be revised in such a way to take into account the statistical power of the individual studies. We thus propose (...)
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  25.  13
    Evolution of Superoscillations in the Dirac Field.Fabrizio Colombo & Giovanni Valente - 2020 - Foundations of Physics 50 (11):1356-1375.
    Superoscillating functions are band-limited functions that can oscillate faster than their fastest Fourier component. The study of the evolution of superoscillations as initial datum of field equations requires the notion of supershift, which generalizes the concept of superoscillations. The present paper has a dual purpose. The first one is to give an updated and self-contained explanation of the strategy to study the evolution of superoscillations by referring to the quantum-mechanical Schrödinger equation and its variations. The second purpose is to treat (...)
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  26.  21
    Quantum symmetry breaking and physical inequivalence: the case of ferromagnetism.Giovanni Valente - 2020 - Synthese 198 (9):8127-8148.
    This paper discusses an outstanding issue in philosophy of physics concerning the relation between quantum symmetries and the notion of physical equivalence. Specifically, it deals with a dilemma arising for quantum symmetry breaking that was posed by Baker, who claimed that if two ground states are connected by a symmetry, even when it is broken, they must be physically equivalent. However, I argue that the dilemma is just apparent. In fact, I object to Baker’s conclusion by showing that the two (...)
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  27.  23
    Relativistic causality.Giovanni Valente & James Owen Weatherall - 2014 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 48 (2):101.