Economics Dictionary of Arguments

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Instrumentalism, science theory: the assumption that theories are useful tools for achieving goals. It is therefore secondary whether these theories are true. When comparing theories, truth ultimately plays the decisive role.
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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.

 
Author Concept Summary/Quotes Sources

Christopher Peacocke on Instrumentalism - Dictionary of Arguments

I 88
PeacockVsInstrumentalism.
Peacocke per separation observation terms/theoretical terms.
>Instrumentalism
, >Observation terms, >Theoretical terms.
If X-ray tubes and Geiger counters are distinguished, then in the representational content - then we have observation terms instead of theoretical terms.
>Content, >Representational Content, >Empirical Content.
I 94
Observation Terms/Instruments/Peacocke: E.g. Square: if presented at different angles, it is epistemically impossible that it is not a square.
E.g. a pair of particles: here it is still epistemically possible that it is not the result of a collision.
That always requires faith in observability, therefore circular if the belief exists and ineffective if the belief does not exist.
>Circularity, >Belief, >Observability, >Unobservables.
In contrast, none of both if it comes to understanding instead of truth.
>Understanding, >Truth.
I 104
Theoretical Terms/TT/Observation term/concept/theory/instrument/experiment/Peacocke: improved tools give us no new concepts.
>Concepts.
Peacocke Thesis: theoretical terms are always connected to observation terms - e.g. a blind, to whom a device writes information about spatial environment on the back: how should the blind test the device?
>Knowledge, >World/Thinking, >Perception, >Certainty,
>Confirmation, >Verification.

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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.

Peacocke I
Chr. R. Peacocke
Sense and Content Oxford 1983

Peacocke II
Christopher Peacocke
"Truth Definitions and Actual Languges"
In
Truth and Meaning, G. Evans/J. McDowell, Oxford 1976


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