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On Photographs and Phonographs: New Techniques of Recording and their Influence on Mach’s Conception of Knowledge

Plaud, Sabine (2007) On Photographs and Phonographs: New Techniques of Recording and their Influence on Mach’s Conception of Knowledge. In: [2007] EPSA07: 1st Conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association (Madrid, 15-17 November, 2007).

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    Abstract

    I examine some aspects of Mach’s concern for photographs and phonographs. I start with the phonographs, and I examine in particular Mach’s reference to this device in his account of the development of written language. My second point is a comparison between Mach's reference to phonographs and hieroglyphs and some very similar insights in Wittgenstein’s Tractatus. Lastly, I address some aspects of Mach’s interest in photographical techniques, and I try to draw a parallel between Mach’s conception of mental economical pictures and the method of composite portraiture developed by Galton.

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    Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
    Keywords: Mach, Wittgenstein, techniques, pictures, Galton, photography, sound waves
    Subjects: General Issues > Philosophers of Science
    Conferences and Volumes: [2007] EPSA07: 1st Conference of the European Philosophy of Science Association (Madrid, 15-17 November, 2007)
    Depositing User: Sabine Plaud
    Date Deposited: 07 Dec 2007
    Last Modified: 07 Oct 2010 11:15
    Item ID: 3699
    URI: http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/3699

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