Currie, Adrian (2018) Big Dragons on Small Islands: generality and particularity in science. (review of Angela Potochnik's Idealization and the Aims of Science). [Preprint]

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Abstract

Angela Potochnik’s Idealization and the Aims of Science (Chicago) defends an ambitious and
systematic account of scientific knowledge: ultimately science pursues human understanding rather
than truth. Potochnik argues that idealization is rampant and unchecked in science. Further, given
that idealizations involve departures from truth, this suggests science is not primarily about truth. I
explore the relationship between truths about causal patterns and scientific understanding in light of
this, and suggest that Potochnik underestimates the importance and power of highly particular
narrative explanations.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Currie, Adrian
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization
Depositing User:	Dr Adrian Currie
Date Deposited:	30 Apr 2018 01:04
Last Modified:	30 Apr 2018 01:04
Item ID:	14623
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization
Date:	2018
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14623

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