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PRODID:-//Grails iCalendar plugin//NONSGML Grails iCalendar plugin//EN
VERSION:2.0
CALSCALE:GREGORIAN
METHOD:PUBLISH
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260414T073850Z
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Budapest:20220211T163000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Budapest:20220211T180000
SUMMARY:The Principle of Least Action and Teleological Explanation in Physics
UID:20260420T201923Z-iCalPlugin-Grails@philevents-web-f5d4878dd-dnjxp
TZID:Europe/Budapest
LOCATION:Budapest\, Hungary
DESCRIPTION:<p>Variational principles present a prima facie challenge to the usual mode of causal explanation in physics. Historically\, one such principle&mdash\;the Principle of Least Action (PLA)&mdash\;has been influential as a potential example of the (re-)introduction of teleology into physics. A contemporary response rests on the derivation of PLA as a limiting case from the Feynman Path Integral (FPI) approach to quantum field theory. If PLA can be derived from FPI\, so the story goes\, and the latter is non-teleological\, then any apparent introduction of teleology by PLA is avoided. In this talk\, I push back against this line of thought: the derivation of PLA from FPI as a limiting case does not undermine PLA as an autonomous explanatory principle. This means that it remains as an interesting case of non-causal explanation.</p>
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