Abstract
Physics models are classified by Rudolf Carnap[1] as "semantics," or the interpretation of experimentsin terms of abstract mathematical theories. Experiments, in his scheme, are part of "pragmatics." Geometry, as an axiomatic theory, is part of "syntax." We argue that semantics, the mapping of physical concepts to abstract symbols, should be a one-to-one mapping, to avoid confusion. A well-known example of current ambiguity, which may lead to confusion, is the use of the mathematical concept of probability to represent at two different physical concepts, one related to the information an observer has about a system, the other related to an objective description of the system. Such confusion already appears in classical statistical mechanics, as interpreted by E.T. Jaynes [2]. It becomes more bothersome in the Copenhagen interpretation of Quantum mechanics. An example is the paradox of "Wiegner's Friend. In this essay we argue that a similar, and related, overloading of meanings is happening with concept of time. We can recognize more than one physical concept hiding behind the label time. We propose another name for one of them. 1) http://www.carnap.org/ 2) http://bayes.wustl.edu/etj/node1.html 3) http://archive.nqeprints.com/173/
Petr Frish