Votsis, Ioannis (2007) Making Contact with Observations. In: UNSPECIFIED.
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Abstract
In this paper I argue contrary to Bogen and Woodward that data serve as evidence for theories, not only for phenomena. Bogen and Woodward seem to forget the old Duhemian dictum that ‘theories cannot be tested in isolation’. That is, they seem to forget that theories require the help of auxiliary hypotheses to make contact with data. When augmented with suitable auxiliaries, theories do entail, predict and potentially explain the data. I say ‘potentially explain the data’ because my focus in this paper is only on the inferential and predictive relations between theories, phenomena and data. To demonstrate my claim I examine four cases from physics, chemistry and astronomy: (i) a controversy between Lavoisier and Priestley, (ii) the calculation of lead’s melting point, (iii) the prediction of the Poisson spot and (iv) the discovery of Neptune.
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| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED) | ||||||
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| Keywords: | observation, data, phenomena, evidence, theory, theory-ladenness, novel prediction, Lavoisier, Priestley, melting point of led, Poisson spot, Neptune. | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Structure of Theories General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
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| Depositing User: | Dr Ioannis Votsis | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 01 Jun 2009 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2010 15:18 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 4672 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Structure of Theories General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
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| Date: | 2007 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/4672 |
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Making Contact with Observations. (deposited 19 Dec 2007)
- Making Contact with Observations. (deposited 01 Jun 2009) [Currently Displayed]
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