经典时空理论的科史源流及理性重构

Classical Spacetime Theories: Historical Evolutions and Rational Reconstructions

科学理论的理性重构是分析派科学哲学和精确科学史的共同主题。以卡尔纳普为代表的逻辑实证主义者将其视为科学理论的规范形式,拉卡托斯则提议以之作为科学史研究的恰当编史学纲领。逻辑和科学哲学的新发展使科学知识的理性重构课题迎来新生。借助"物理/几何对应"可将经典时空理论重构为四维几何对象。通过对称群方法及其范畴学推广,得以系统比较经典时空的结构丰度。后者是科学史层面的"二次理性重构"。

The rational reconstruction of scientific theories is a common theme in both analytical philosophy of science and history of exact sciences. For instance, logical positivists such as Carnap regarded it as the normative form of scientific theories, and Lakatos proposed it as an appropriate historiographical principle for the study of the history of science. Admittedly, recent developments in logic and philosophy of science have renewed interest in this topic. Through "physics/geometry correspondence", one can reconstruct classical spacetime structures as 4-dimensional geometric objects. By applying method of symmetric groups and its categorical generalization, it is possible to systematically compare the structural information of classical spacetime structures, which can be regarded as the "secondary rational reconstruction" at the level of history of science.