Lexicon of Arguments

 

II 18
Theory/physics/Genz: the task of theory is not prediction, but explanation. Predictions are only for review.
>Confirmation, >Measurements.
II 45
Prediction/description/periodicity/Genz: question: the Babylonians could also predict solar eclipses without even knowing how the solar system was constructed.
Solution: this was possible because the operations in the system are periodic.
Example: "Saros cycle": after 6585 1/3 days there is another solar eclipse.
II 46
Periodicity/prediction/understanding/Genz: due to periodicity, prediction is possible without understanding. That is not a why-explanation.
II 56
Prediction/forecasting/Genz: it is not the laws that are needed, but the consequences of these laws.
II 299
Prediction/Genz: example: assuming you have a program called "Grail" that predicts the results of all possible experiments, if you have it, you do not need any laws of nature.
II 300
Prediction/Genz: for example, my program "Grail" can predict the results of all experiments without knowing anything about natural laws: Assuming we wanted to build a missile shield: Grail can hardly support it, because we need more for a plan:
II 301
Plan/Genz: a plan must be more than just predicting results: it must have insight into the possibilities.
>Planning.
Problem: no program that answers questions can decide which questions make sense.
For example "Grail": doubles nature for us. We could ask nature itself instead of the Grail. Grail does not contribute to their understanding (GenzVsInstrumentalism).
>Instrumentalism.
The program does not explain anything, but calls for an explanation (like nature).
>Explanations.
Theory/Genz: physical theories have only the task of explaining sensory impressions. They form systems of statements and draw verifiable experimental conclusions from them. ((s) = observation conditional ).
>Observation conditional.