Philosophy 382
Bradford Skow

	
						Fields and Energy
						

If there is such a stuff as energy, then:

	Energy is not "free-floating" in empty space; it is always attached
	to something (a material body, or a field).
	
	There are facts about where each bit of energy is located.
	
	There are facts about how each bit of energy is moving.
	
	
	
The argument against the existence of such a stuff as energy:



	1.	If there is such a stuff as energy, then there are danglers.

	2.	There are no danglers.

	3. 	Therefore, there is no such stuff as energy.



Three rationales for the first premise (outline):


First rationale: this rationale is based on the how kinetic energy is transferred during collisions. Facts about how kinetic energy is transferred are danglers.


Second rationale: this rationale is based on how potential energy is distributed. Supposing there are no fields, facts about where each bit of potential energy is located are danglers.


Third rationale: this rationale is based on how the energy that resides in the fields moves. Supposing there are fields, in some circumstances facts about how the energy is moving are danglers.



On how energy is stored in the field: the amount of energy in a given region is determined by the strength of the electrical and magnetic fields in that region.