The nature of representation in Feynman diagrams

Abstract

After a brief presentation of Feynman diagrams, we criticizise the idea that Feynman diagrams can be considered to be pictures or depictions of actual physical processes. We then show that the best interpretation of the role they play in quantum field theory and quantum electrodynamics is captured by Hughes' Denotation, Deduction and Interpretation theory of models (DDI), where models are to be interpreted as inferential, non-representational devices constructed in given social contexts by the community of physicists.