Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Literally true: a theory can only be literally true when its terms may not be re-interpreted in a given situation. On the other hand, a reinterpretation can make some theories and laws applicable to special cases, without being true or false._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Bas van Fraassen on Literal Truth - Dictionary of Arguments
I 9 Literally Truth/Fraassen: the term has the function of excluding an addition like "correctly understood". - Because a theory could be literally wrong or meaningless with the addition "well understood". Anti-Realism: Thesis: the goal of science can be achieved without a theory being literally true. >Anti-realism. I 10 Literally true/Fraassen: 1. The language is literally constructed 2. The representation is therefore true. Science/Fraassen: Goal: to be true, but not literally. Fraassen: Thesis: a good theory does not have to be true (Fraassen pro Anti-Realism). - It is literally not equal to truth functional. - If we exclude literary constructions, we also exclude instrumentalism and positivism - these use literally understood formulations. - A literary construction can be elaborated (e.g. to determine referents, e.g. reduction of thermodynamics on statistical mechanics), but it cannot change their logical relationships. I 11 Literally true: excludes metaphors - Problem: the "demythologization" does not get the logical form. I 38 Literally true/Fraassen: Dummett allows a non-literal interpretation for the quantum mechanics when he says that a sentence about the position of a particle cannot have a truth value simultaneously with one over the impulse. Otherwise Strawson: E.g. "The present king of France is bald" here there is no non-literal construction of our language. Again different: in everyday life people tend to "well understood truths". >Everyday language, >Truth, >Theories, >Cognition, >Science._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Fr I B. van Fraassen The Scientific Image Oxford 1980 |
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> Counter arguments against Fraassen
> Counter arguments in relation to Literal Truth
Ed. Martin Schulz, access date 2024-04-28