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Towards Ideal Understanding

Hubert, Mario and Malfatti, Federica (2022) Towards Ideal Understanding. [Preprint]

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Abstract

What does it take to understand a phenomenon ideally, or to the highest conceivable extent? In this paper, we answer this question by arguing for five necessary conditions for ideal understanding: (i) representational accuracy, (ii) intelligibility, (iii) truth, (iv) reasonable endorsement, and (v) fitting. Even if one disagrees that there is some form of ideal understanding, these five conditions can be regarded as sufficient conditions for a particularly deep level of understanding. We then argue that grasping, novel predictions, and transparency are not reasonable conditions for ideal understanding.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Hubert, Mariomario.hubert@aucegypt.edu0000-0002-1170-6020
Malfatti, Federica
Keywords: understanding, knowledge, scientific theory
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
General Issues > Models and Idealization
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User: Dr. Mario Hubert
Date Deposited: 12 Oct 2022 13:50
Last Modified: 12 Oct 2022 13:50
Item ID: 21262
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
General Issues > Models and Idealization
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date: 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21262

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