The inconsistency of physics (with a capital "p")

Robert W. Batterman

pp. 2973-2992

in: Otávio Bueno, Peter Vickers (eds), Is science inconsistent?, Synthese 191 (13), 2014.

Abstract

This paper discusses a conception of physics as a collection of theories that, from a logical point of view, is inconsistent. It is argued that this logical conception of the relations between physical theories is too crude. Mathematical subtleties allow for a much more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the relations between different physical theories.