Theoretical Equivalence as Representational Equivalence
Minzhe Li

Abstract:
This thesis explores the relationship between theoretical equivalence and representational equivalence. It mainly contains three parts: the first part summarizes current criteria of theoretical equivalence and proves some results about their comparative strengths; the second part develops a formal framework of representation and shows how formal criteria of theoretical equivalence are related to representational equivalence; the third part applies the framework to the hole argument in philosophy of physics, and gives a critical evaluation of the formalist response to the hole argument.