Understanding Electromagnetism

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“Understanding Electromagnetism.” British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 49 (1998) 531-555.

(published version) [preprint]

Abstract. The quantum mechanical Aharonov-Bohm effect is generally seen as forcing us to revise our interpretation of the classical theory of electromagnetism. This is somewhat puzzling: How can a feature of false theory mandate a revision of an interpretation of another false theory? I attempt to make sense of this phenomenon by arguing that the various possible interpretations of classical electromagnetic theory underwrite distinct approaches to quantization. I infer that our interpretative beliefs about electromagnetism are open to revision in light of quantum effects. I sketch an approach to understanding the structure and content of our physical knowledge which makes sense of this inference.

Note. In fn. 28 I claim that disturbances in the vector potential propagate with infinite velocity. This is false: in the Lorenz gauge the components of the potential satisfy inhomogenous wave equations, so the potential propagates at the speed of light. Thanks to Stephen Leeds and Mathias Frisch here.

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