Psychology Dictionary of ArgumentsHome | |||
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Idealization: idealization is a simplification of theories for the purpose of generalization. A) Before starting an investigation in physics, e.g. the assumption of a mass point, i.e. a practical impossibility, which, however, simplifies the calculation and delivers correct results. B) Subsequently, for example, the smoothing of the course of a curve of measured values. See also Theories, measurements. _____________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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Paul Feyerabend on Idealization - Dictionary of Arguments
I 81 Approximation Method/Qualitative Difficulties/Feyerabend: Examples of reduction are: reduction of the wave packet (I 82), heliocentric theory at the time of Galileo. Ad-hoc approximations to many quantitative results of the theories are not correct and surprisingly qualitatively inadequate. E.g., von Neumann replaced the semi-intuitive concepts of Dirac and Bohr with incredibly complicated concepts. The relation to experience becomes more obscure than ever. >Experience, >Observation, >Explanation, >Reduction, >Reductionism._____________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. |
Feyerabend I Paul Feyerabend Against Method. Outline of an Anarchistic Theory of Knowledge, London/New York 1971 German Edition: Wider den Methodenzwang Frankfurt 1997 Feyerabend II P. Feyerabend Science in a Free Society, London/New York 1982 German Edition: Erkenntnis für freie Menschen Frankfurt 1979 |