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What really lives in the swamp? Kinds and the illustration of scientific reasoning

Richmond, Andrew (2023) What really lives in the swamp? Kinds and the illustration of scientific reasoning. [Preprint]

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Abstract

I use Swampman to illuminate the role of thought experiments in philosophy of science. Against Millikan and others, I argue that even outlandish thought experiments can shed light on science and scientific kinds, so long as we understand them as illustrations of scientific reasoning, not examples of scientific kinds. The logic of thought experiments, understood as illustrations, is analogous to the logic of common experimental paradigms in science, and allows Swampman to survive teleosemantic objections. So, in reviving Swampman, I also provide a framework for understanding how, why, and when thought experiments are informative about science and scientific kinds.

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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Richmond, Andrewarichmo8@uwo.ca0000-0001-7824-7474
Keywords: Cognitive Science, Teleology, Representation, Swampman, Thought Experiment, Philosophical Methodology
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
General Issues > Thought Experiments
Depositing User: Andrew Richmond
Date Deposited: 11 Aug 2025 12:58
Last Modified: 11 Aug 2025 12:58
Item ID: 26197
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience
General Issues > Thought Experiments
Date: 2023
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26197

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