Lutz, Sebastian (2012) What's Right With a Syntactic Approach to Theories and Models? [Preprint]

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Abstract

Syntactic approaches in the philosophy of science, which are based on formalizations in predicate logic, are often considered in principle inferior to semantic approaches, which are based on formalizations with the help of structures. To compare the two kinds of approach, I identify some ambiguities in common semantic accounts and explicate the concept of a structure in a way that avoids hidden references to a specific vocabulary. From there, I argue that contrary to common opinion (i) unintended models do not pose a significant problem for syntactic approaches to scientific theories, (ii) syntactic approaches can be at least as language independent as semantic ones, and (iii) in syntactic approaches, scientific theories can be as well connected to the world as in semantic ones. Based on these results, I argue that syntactic and semantic approaches fare equally well when it comes to (iv) ease of application, (iv) accommodating the use of models in the sciences, and (vi) capturing the theory-observation relation.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Lutz, Sebastian
Keywords:	syntactic view; semantic view; received view; structuralism; axiomatization; formalization; genetic method; structure; pure structure; embedding
Subjects:	General Issues > Structure of Theories General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism
Depositing User:	Sebastian Lutz
Date Deposited:	29 Mar 2013 13:31
Last Modified:	29 Mar 2013 13:31
Item ID:	9650
Subjects:	General Issues > Structure of Theories General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Logical Positivism/Logical Empiricism
Date:	15 July 2012
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9650

Available Versions of this Item

• What's Right With a Syntactic Approach to Theories and Models? (deposited 02 Apr 2010)
  • What's Right With a Syntactic Approach to Theories and Models? (deposited 29 Mar 2013 13:31) [Currently Displayed]

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