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How Theory-laden are Observations of Black Holes?

Doboszewski, Juliusz and Elder, Jamee (2025) How Theory-laden are Observations of Black Holes? [Preprint]

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Abstract

We evaluate the roles general relativistic assumptions play in simulations used in recent observations of black holes including LIGO-Virgo and the Event Horizon Telescope. In both experiments simulations play an ampliative role, enabling the extraction of more information from the data than would be possible otherwise. This comes at a cost of theory-ladenness. We discuss the issue of inferential circularity, which arises in some applications; classify some of the epistemic strategies used to reduce the extent of theory-ladenness; and discuss ways in which these strategies are model independent.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Doboszewski, Juliuszjdoboszewski@gmail.com0000-0001-7864-2458
Elder, Jameejamee.elder@gmail.com0000-0002-1482-5682
Additional Information: Forthcoming in Philosophy of Science
Keywords: simulations, theory ladenness, inferential circularity, model independence, black holes, EHT, LIGO
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics
General Issues > Computer Simulation
General Issues > Evidence
General Issues > Experimentation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
General Issues > Theory/Observation
Depositing User: Juliusz Doboszewski
Date Deposited: 15 Feb 2025 14:23
Last Modified: 15 Feb 2025 14:23
Item ID: 24752
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Physics > Astrophysics
General Issues > Computer Simulation
General Issues > Evidence
General Issues > Experimentation
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory
General Issues > Theory/Observation
Date: 13 February 2025
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24752

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