Psychology Dictionary of Arguments

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Constants, philosophy, logic: constants are conditions which do not change, in contrast to processes, states, and also natural objects, e.g. aging. An aging human being remains constantly the same person, but not the same body. For a constant, e.g. a name for an object is given. Letters of logic are given for individual constants (a, b, c ...), but also for individual variables (x, y, z ...). Variables are not changing objects, but a new object may be used instead of a variable, e.g. 4 instead of 5. These two numbers, however, are not changing objects, but have a constant value.
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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

Ian Hacking on Constants - Dictionary of Arguments

I 393
Constants/Hacking: we use constants mostly to determine the quotient between two constants.
>Mathematics/Hartry Field
, >Physics/Hartry Field.
The redefinition and better identification of constants never comes to a conclusion. This is not a "continuation of the theory by other means".
I 394
Constant/Constant of Nature/Hacking: the value of a constant is not part of the theory. Most of them are connected with other constants by physical laws. The gravitational constant is connected with nothing else.
>Natural constants, >Values, >Theories, >Natural laws, >Gravitation.
I 396
Duhem: it is a qualitative fact that the universe can be represented by certain mathematical models. A further qualitative fact is that there is a number that goes best with our mathematics.
>Numbers, >Mathematics, >Pierre Duhem.
I 397
Hacking: we use constants usually to determine the quotient between two constants. We do not reach an end in the improvements.
>Science.

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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.

Hacking I
I. Hacking
Representing and Intervening. Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science, Cambridge/New York/Oakleigh 1983
German Edition:
Einführung in die Philosophie der Naturwissenschaften Stuttgart 1996


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