Ontological Issues and Transition in the Action at a Distance-Field Theory Debate of Classical Electromagnetism:1837-1895
Scholars of the history of science often distinguish nineteenth-century electromagnetism as the school of action at a distance theory and the school of field theory.An examination of the works of the physicists from two schools between 1837 and 1895,reveals that the theories of the two schools,including ontology,have undergone subtle changes and merged each other during the debate which lasted for more than half a century.By focusing on the shifting of ontological commitments,a more detailed division of the electromagnetism schools and disagreements between them in the process of classical electromagnetic synthesis can be made,leading to a deeper understanding of classical electromagnetic synthesis.
Classical ElectromagnetismAction at distance theoryField theoryOntological
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