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Cognitive Artifacts and Their Virtues in Scientific Practice

Miłkowski, Marcin (2022) Cognitive Artifacts and Their Virtues in Scientific Practice. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper proposes a novel way to understand various kinds of scientific representations in terms of cognitive artifacts. It introduces a novel functional taxonomy of cognitive artifacts prevalent in scientific practice, which covers a huge diversity of their formats, vehicles, and functions. It is argued that toolboxes, conceptual frameworks, theories, models, and
individual hypotheses can be understood as supporting our cognitive performance in scientific practice. While all these entities are external representations, their function can be best understood through the conceptual lens of wide cognition. The functional approach
suggests that the assessment of knowledge representation in science should be based on functions that cognitive artifacts help us perform. By providing a conceptual link between the functionality of artifacts and their virtues, this approach also recommends an empirical approach to the study of virtues. This implies that the cognitive approach to the study of science can offer some guidance in recent philosophical debates around the nature of
scientific theories or models.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Miłkowski, Marcinmmilkows@ifispan.edu.pl0000-0001-7646-5742
Keywords: cognitive artifacts; scientific representation; theoretical virtues
Subjects: General Issues > Structure of Theories
General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User: Dr. Marcin Miłkowski
Date Deposited: 28 Jun 2022 22:52
Last Modified: 28 Jun 2022 22:52
Item ID: 20816
Subjects: General Issues > Structure of Theories
General Issues > Values In Science
Date: 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20816

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