Lexicon of Arguments

 

I 17
Observability/Maxwell: Thesis: there is nothing basically unobservable, because I could have had electron eyes. (> Possible world/Fraassen).
FraassenVsMaxwell: that's just a trick. - shifting the subject: if I were a giant, I would have ... - Physics describes ultimative observable limits.
N.B.: these are literally human limitations.
Observable/Maxwell: classifies suspected items - has nothing to do with existence.
I 57
Limits of observability are empirical, not philosophical.
I 57
Observability/Theory/Fractures: what is observable can be found out by examining the theory itself. - ((s)> hermeneutic circle).
Nevertheless, the observability is not theory-relative - which is an observable (= physical quantity) is theory-independent - is a function of us as organisms.
I 75
Observability/Fraassen: e.g. Darwin's missing link: was an observable entity! - e.g. elementary particles: brought their own properties. Thus there is new information which was not contained in the old theory - namely, about the nature of these unobservable entities. Instead of accepting realism here, we can assume a purely functional view.
I 197
Observability/Fraassen: there is no logical link between observability and existence. A theory as far as empirical adequacy is concerned would be just as good if nothing existed that is either unobservable or non-actual. >Observability, >Unobservables.