Psychology Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Observability: this is about the question of the limits of the observability of objects of science. These boundaries have been repeatedly shifted over time by the introduction of new instruments. This raises the question of whether theories and the meaning of their terms change as a result of this shift. See also theoretical terms, observation language, observation terms, observation sentence, existence, reality, meaning change._____________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 Observability - Dictionary 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._____________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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