Against the impossible picture: Feynman's heuristics in his search for a divergence-free quantum electrodynamics

Abstract

Arguably, the development of Feynman diagrams not only resulted in a useful tool for calculations but also brought about deep conceptual changes in the theory of quantum electrodynamics. Starting from this thesis, I try to bring to the fore a particular aspect of it. I maintain that the function of Feynman diagrams is not exhausted by their use in the application of the finished theory to concrete cases. Rather, Feynman diagrams are one of the results of Feynman's more general search for appropriate means of representation. Accordingly, the development of Feynman diagrams is a characteristic example of Feynman's heuristics.