A Short History of the Method of Thought Experiments in Science

Kühne, Ulrich (2009) A Short History of the Method of Thought Experiments in Science. In [2009] Thought Experiments: A Workshop (Toronto, May 22-23, 2009).

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Abstract

1) Remarks on the historical development of the experimental method
2) Major stages in the development of a method called “thought experiment”
(a) Metaphysics (Kant, Ørsted)
(b) Anti-Metaphysics (Mach)
(c) The modern physicists (Einstein, Heisenberg)
3) Does the history of the concept allow for a meaningful explanation of “thought experiments”?
(a) Proposal 1: The construction of monsters (Lakatos)
(b) Proposal 2: Arguments using generalised principles

Keywords:Galileo, Kant, Oersted, Mach, Einstein, Heisenberg, Lakatos
Subjects:General Issues: Thought Experiments
Conferences and Volumes:[2009] Thought Experiments: A Workshop (Toronto, May 22-23, 2009)
ID Code:4700
Deposited By:Kuehne, Ulrich J.
Deposited On:11 June 2009