Kedves Kollegak, mindenkit szeretettel varunk, udv kgy -------------------------------------- SZEMINARIUMI ELOADAS Az ELTE TTK Tudomanytortenet es Tudomanyfilozofia Tanszeken (1088 Bp., Rakoczi ut 5.) Michael Stoelzner Institute Vienna Circle, Becs Levels of Physical Theories cimmel tart eloadast. ELOADASKIVONAAT The most sublime task of physics is often seen in presenting, some day, a world formula or a simple Theory of Everything (T.O.E.) that crowns the top of a pyramid of physical laws. This view has been propagated by many high energy physicists, particu- larly by Steven Weinberg. If one examines in how far the candi- dates for that claim determine the scenario on lower levels, quite often cases appear, in which more depends on the actual circumstances (initial conditions or constants of nature) than can be deduced from the higher, more general theory. I will argue that laws on lower levels might have been present on higher lev- els merely as possibilities. Symmetry breakings, which determined the actual values of constants of nature, could have occured spontaneously in the course of the evolution of the universe. Such a view attributes to the physical laws at each particular level the genuine importance they deserve. Philosophically it considers the explanation of a given physical phenomenon as the primary quest in physics. In the cases men- tioned the deductions performable fail to give a sufficient ex- planation. The understanding of a physical theory is maximal if it can be comprehended as part of a hierarchy of physical theories. I propose not to base the level structure of physics in a foggy objective reductionism, but to view it as an interplay between two elements. Firstly, in the mathematical formulation of physics a natural layering is automatically given. This order es- tablished between general concepts and specific situations is, however, only local and does not induce an entire pyramid of mathematics. But secondly, the levels established that way only become physical theories if one supplements the specific physicsl circumstances at the particular level, for instance the results of unpredictable phase transitions and fundamental constants. Both elments serve two possible simplicity criteria, axiomatic and relational (from propositions to phenomena) simplicity. Idopontja: 1995 december 7., csutortok, 17 ora. Helye: Rakoczi ut 5., I. em. 105. Az eloadas idotartama 50-60 perc, amelyet rovid szunet utan kb. 30-60 perc vita kovet. Minden erdeklodot szeretettel varunk. Udvozlettel, a szervezok: &&Kampis Gyorgy &&(gk(a)hps.elte.hu) &&Szabo Laszlo &&(leszabo(a)hal9000.elte.hu) &&Szecsenyi Tibor &&(szecska(a)ludens.elte.hu)