PhilSci Archive

Idealization, Representation, and Explanation in the Sciences

Jacquart, Melissa and Shech, Elay and Zach, Martin (2022) Idealization, Representation, and Explanation in the Sciences. [Preprint]

[img]
Preview
Text
Jacquart, Shech, Zach - 2022 - Idealization, Representation, and Explanation Across the Sciences.pdf

Download (214kB) | Preview

Abstract

A central goal of the scientific endeavor is to explain phenomena. Scientists often attempt to explain a phenomenon by way of representing it in some manner—such as with mathematical equations, models, or theory—which allows for an explanation of the phenomenon under investigation. However, in developing scientific representations, scientists typically deploy simplifications and idealizations. As a result, scientific representations provide only partial, and often distorted, accounts of the phenomenon in question. Philosophers of science have analyzed the nature and function of how scientists construct representations, deploy idealizations, and provide explanations. As such, our aim in this special issue is to bring these three pillars of research into closer contact with the contributions to it focusing on three main themes.

The first set of papers, Alan Baker (2021) and Marc Lange (2021), address mathematical explanations in science. Baker (2021), a proponent of mathematical Platonism, examines its capacity to evade the critique that the so-called Enhanced Indispensability Argument is circular. Lange (2021) examines distinctively mathematical explanations, arguing that neither Platonism nor representationalism are successful paths, and instead argues in favor of Aristotelian realism. A second theme emerging from the papers in this special issue is the impact that various conceptualizations of idealization have on our abilities to offer scientific explanations, to produce an analysis of what explanations are or should be, and to understand scientific representation. Peter Tan (2021) suggests amending inferentialist accounts of scientific representation to account for inconsistent idealizations. Michael Strevens (2021) advocates a view wherein the introduction of idealizations into a model is legitimate so long as it pertains to non-difference-making factors, arguing for a logical reading of the notion of difference-making. Natalia Carrillo and Tarja Knuuttila (2021) offer an alternative account to the idealization-as-distortion view, emphasizing instead the holistic nature of idealization.

Finally, contributions by Carrillo and Knuuttila (2021), Terzian (2021), Valente (2021), and Rodriguez (2021) illustrate how issues regarding idealization, representation, and explanation are applied to specific contexts and across various sciences. Carrillo and Knuuttila (2021) examine conceptions of idealization in the context of models of the nerve impulse. Giulia Terzian (2021) extends the discussion of idealizations to the context of generative linguistics. Giovanni Valente (2021) examines how idealizations and evaluations of accurate representation impact capacities to explain phenomena in the context of statistical thermodynamics. Quentin Rodriguez (2021) examines the role of idealizations and analogies in various strategies to explain critical phenomena.

In what follows, we offer a brief overview of important philosophical issues connected to representation, idealization, and explanation in science. We then provide short summaries of the eight papers in this special issue.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Jacquart, Melissamelissajacquart@gmail.com0000-0003-2144-1588
Shech, Elayeshech@gmail.com
Zach, Martinzach@flu.cas.cz0000-0001-7181-0391
Keywords: Idealization, Representation, explanation, Alan Baker, Marc Lange, Peter Tan, Michael Strevens, Natalia Carrillo, Tarja Knuuttila, Giulia Terzian, Giovanni Valente, Quentin Rodriguez
Subjects: General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Depositing User: Melissa Jacquart
Date Deposited: 05 Oct 2022 17:32
Last Modified: 05 Oct 2022 17:32
Item ID: 21240
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2022.09.003
DOI or Unique Handle: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2022.09.003
Subjects: General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Date: 1 October 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21240

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Altmetric.com

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item