DOCSLIB.ORG

Essays in the Philosophy of Chemistry

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Essays in the Philosophy of Chemistry CHAPTER 10 / How Properties Hold Together in Substances Essays in the Philosophy TOSEPH E. EARLEY, SR. of Chemistry 1 What Has Chemistry to Do with Philosophy? Edited by ERIC SCERRI AND GRANT FISHER A main aim of chemical research is to understand how the characteristicproper­ ties of specificchemical substances relate to the composition and to the strnctureof OXFORD those materials.Such investigations assume a broad consensus regarding basic UNIVERSITY PRESS aspects of chemistry. Philosophers generally regard widespread agreement on basic.principles as a remote goal, not something already achieved. They do not agree on how properties stay together in ordinary objects. Some follow John Locke [1632-1704] and maintain that properties of entitiesinhere in substrates.The item that this approach considers to underlie characteristicsis often called "a bare Introduction particular"(Sider 2006). However, others reject this understandingand hold that 7 substances are bundles of properties-an approach advocated by David Hume ERIC SCERRI AND GRANT FISHER [r7rr-1776J. Some supporters of Hume's theory hold that entities are collec­ tions of"tropes" (property-instances) held together in a "compresence relation­ ship" (Simons 1994). Recentlyseveral authors have pointed out the importance of "structures"for the coherenceof substances, but serious questionshave been raised about those proposals. Philosophers generally use a time-independent The chapter by Joseph E. Earley Sr. (chap. 10) can only be described as a tour (synchronic} approach and do not consider how chemists understand proper­ de forcein every sense of the term. Earley's writing, perhaps more thanthat of ties of chemical substances and of dynamic networks of chemical reactions. any other currently activeauthor, displays a complete mastery of both the phil­ This chapter aims to clarify how current chemical understanding relates to osophical and the chemical literature. Nothing that could be said briefly here aspects of contemporary philosophy. The first section introduces philosophical would do justice to his essay, which ranges across a diverse set of topics in­ debates, the second considers properties of chemical systems, the third part cluding the nature of substance, properties and relations, bundles, molecular deals with theories of wholes and parts, the fourth segment argues that closure properties, onticity, wholes and parts and much more. grounds properties of coherences, the fifthsection introduces structural realism (SR}, thesixth partconsiders contextual emergenceand concludes that dynamic structures of processes may qualify as determinants ("causes") of specific out­ comes, and the final sectionsuggests that ordinary items are based on closure of relationships among constituents additionally determined by selection for integrationinto more-extensive coherences. \ individ ily asserted concerning an considered that whatever can be Substances Russell (attribute) of that particular. Hila 1.1 whatsoever) is a property ual (any predicate broad understand that philosophers who use such Ruth Garrett Millikan discussed the concept of substance in philosophy: Putnam (1969) pointed out would that use of narrower properrconce?ts often run into difficulties properties . ings those Substances are whatever one can learn from given only one or a few encoun conceded real existence only to avoid. D. H. Mellor (2006) and argued ters, various skills or information that will appiy to other encounters,. Further, in causal laws science discovers to be involved and relations that not exist— this possibility must be grounded in some kind of natural necessity,.. .The func properties (including redness) do that many generallyaccePt them. tion of a substance concept is to make possible this sort of learning and use of dealt with without recognizing any causal rerlarity can be knowledge for a specific substance, because of property which was described generally use a restricted notion (MILUKAN 2000,33) Chemists Peirce 1839_i9i4j_that is, and philosopher Charles S. by American chemist specified operation (CP behaves, or would behave, in a Substances necessarily persist through time and thus are distinguished from a prope is how a thing what effects, Peirce’s Pragmatic Maxim: “Consider events. Chemists, however, define chemical substances as materials of con 8.o8).’ This usage exemplifies of our bearings, we conceive the object stant composition and definite properties—and also consider all systems to might conceivably have practical that these effects is the whole of our composed of smaller hold that macroscopic samples are made Then our conception of be items. They conception to have. practice of chemists 5.402). We follow the usual up of molecules and that molecules have atomic nuclei and electrons as com conception of the object” (CP of property. ponents. All of these bits are in incessant motion, and in continual interac and use Peirce’s concept (including pow or Peirce’s property-concePts tion with other items. The long-term stability of composite chemical entities Properties filling either Mellor’s prop affordances) are classed as dispositional implies that internal motions are somehow constrained so that the composites capacitieS rnlnerabilities, and ers, designated as categorial or substantive retain integrity over time and through interaction. Paul Weiss described this NondispOsiti0n properties are erties. from stntctu rat properties situation in terms of the philosophers’ concept of substance: properties are distinguished properties. Intrinsic involve two or more on relationship(s). Relations features of entities that depend can be hold whatever it contains, pro (polyadic) relations Each actuality is a substance. It maintains a on retata. Some claim that many-place individuals as argued that un’m duces, and intrudes upon. It persists and it acts. It has an irreducible, indepen (monadic) properties. But Russell reduced to single-place monadic properties. an reduced to dent core, and receives determinaons from insistent, intrusive forces... If such as greater than cannot be metrical relations problems could be under actuality were not a substance, its parts would not belong to it, and it would dis centu’r some held that all In the mid twentieth with intrinsic perse itself in the very act of making its presence evident. The very items which entities (elementa particles) stood in terms of noncomPo5ite derives continue apparentlyintrmflsic prope it dominates, it would not control; nor would it 10 be despite an involve alternative view is that every properties. An mass of the proton ment in change and motion. It would be inert and solely in itself or it would be extensive components—as the from interaction of less not from a mere event. In either case, it would not be a source of action. its three component quarks, arises from the combination of (WEIss t959, 109) mainly Hoffmann, Katz, et al. (Dun, Fodor, ison,Hoelbliflg, their intrinsic masses and stt,cthral intrinsic properties are prima The well-established dynamic aspect of nature requires attention to how prop zooS). On the former view, properties the alternative basis structural er-ties of chemical entities are maintained through time, and how they maintain (relational) properties secondary: on integrity during interaction. Failure to consider factors involving time (use of are fundamental. synchronic rather than diachronic approaches) is not acceptable (Humphrys SubstanceAttribute Approach 2008, ‘997; Earley 2o12b). 1.3 AlternativeS to the round the “All modern philosophy hinges Alfred North Whitehead held that: 1.2 and predicate substance Properties and Relations the world in terms of subject difficulty of describing Whitehead rejected universal” (Whitehead 1978,49). Natural human languages funchon as f all items fall into one or the other of and quality, particular and termed ‘ac asserted: “Actual entities’—also two great classes: subjects (substances, particulars, or individuals) and predi Locke’s category of substance and which the world is made up” (18). cates (attributes or universals—including properties and relations). Aristotle’s the final real things of tual occasions—are of actual occasions. all of a single sort_self-creation early definition: “A substance. is that which is neither said of a subject nor (is] Process for Whitehead is in a subject” (Categories 13—14), Barnes 1984, is similar to Bertrand , (, 4) Russell’s characterization: “An ‘individual’ is anything that can be the subject of Charlei Sanders electronic version of The Collected Papers • Paragraph zo8 of volume $ of the of an atomic proposition” (Russell’s “Introduction” in Whitehead and Russell will fol1o this style. Pierce. F uer citations to this work 1970, xix). SUBSTANcES 201 HOLD TOGETHER IN HOW PRoPERTIES 200 Metaphysical Issues ‘Actual entities perish, but do not change; they are what they are” Actual merely bundles of properties. Not only must a being be some way or other. it is OCCasions are not substances_they (35). come to be and, in so doing, by ways of being. Donald perish. exhausted W Mertz (1996, 2003) avoids the substance-prope distinction in a different way. Mertz’s “Instance Ontology” holds that an object (such as Alpha) “is a unified, persisting, indepen operates with a single ontological Robb category—called property instance, state of dent being” (468) but does not examine the basis of such unity, persistence, affairs, or fact of relationship By recognition ofintensiontypes (universals), and independence. Although lie considers that
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry
    Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Chemistry Jaap van Brakel Abstract: In this paper I assess the relation between philosophy of chemistry and (general) philosophy of science, focusing on those themes in the philoso- phy of chemistry that may bring about major revisions or extensions of cur- rent philosophy of science. Three themes can claim to make a unique contri- bution to philosophy of science: first, the variety of materials in the (natural and artificial) world; second, extending the world by making new stuff; and, third, specific features of the relations between chemistry and physics. Keywords : philosophy of science, philosophy of chemistry, interdiscourse relations, making stuff, variety of substances . 1. Introduction Chemistry is unique and distinguishes itself from all other sciences, with respect to three broad issues: • A (variety of) stuff perspective, requiring conceptual analysis of the notion of stuff or material (Sections 4 and 5). • A making stuff perspective: the transformation of stuff by chemical reaction or phase transition (Section 6). • The pivotal role of the relations between chemistry and physics in connection with the question how everything fits together (Section 7). All themes in the philosophy of chemistry can be classified in one of these three clusters or make contributions to general philosophy of science that, as yet , are not particularly different from similar contributions from other sci- ences (Section 3). I do not exclude the possibility of there being more than three clusters of philosophical issues unique to philosophy of chemistry, but I am not aware of any as yet. Moreover, highlighting the issues discussed in Sections 5-7 does not mean that issues reviewed in Section 3 are less im- portant in revising the philosophy of science.
    [Show full text]
  • In Defence of Constructive Empiricism: Metaphysics Versus Science
    To appear in Journal for General Philosophy of Science (2004) In Defence of Constructive Empiricism: Metaphysics versus Science F.A. Muller Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Mathematics Utrecht University, P.O. Box 80.000 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands E-mail: [email protected] August 2003 Summary Over the past years, in books and journals (this journal included), N. Maxwell launched a ferocious attack on B.C. van Fraassen's view of science called Con- structive Empiricism (CE). This attack has been totally ignored. Must we con- clude from this silence that no defence is possible against the attack and that a fortiori Maxwell has buried CE once and for all, or is the attack too obviously flawed as not to merit exposure? We believe that neither is the case and hope that a careful dissection of Maxwell's reasoning will make this clear. This dis- section includes an analysis of Maxwell's `aberrance-argument' (omnipresent in his many writings) for the contentious claim that science implicitly and per- manently accepts a substantial, metaphysical thesis about the universe. This claim generally has been ignored too, for more than a quarter of a century. Our con- clusions will be that, first, Maxwell's attacks on CE can be beaten off; secondly, his `aberrance-arguments' do not establish what Maxwell believes they estab- lish; but, thirdly, we can draw a number of valuable lessons from these attacks about the nature of science and of the libertarian nature of CE. Table of Contents on other side −! Contents 1 Exordium: What is Maxwell's Argument? 1 2 Does Science Implicitly Accept Metaphysics? 3 2.1 Aberrant Theories .
    [Show full text]
  • Existence in Physics
    Existence in Physics Armin Nikkhah Shirazi ∗ University of Michigan, Department of Physics, Ann Arbor January 24, 2019 Abstract This is the second in a two-part series of papers which re-interprets relativistic length contraction and time dilation in terms of concepts argued to be more fundamental, broadly construed to mean: concepts which point to the next paradigm. After refining the concept of existence to duration of existence in spacetime, this paper introduces a criterion for physi- cal existence in spacetime and then re-interprets time dilation in terms of the concept of the abatement of an object’s duration of existence in a given time interval, denoted as ontochronic abatement. Ontochronic abatement (1) focuses attention on two fundamental spacetime prin- ciples the significance of which is unappreciated under the current paradigm, (2) clarifies the state of existence of speed-of-light objects, and (3) leads to the recognition that physical existence is an equivalence relation by absolute dimensionality. These results may be used to justify the incorporation of the physics-based study of existence into physics as physical ontology. Keywords: Existence criterion, spacetime ontic function, ontochronic abatement, invariance of ontic value, isodimensionality, ontic equivalence class, areatime, physical ontology 1 Introduction This is the second in a two-part series of papers which re-interprets relativistic length contraction and time dilation in terms of concepts argued to be more fundamental, broadly construed to mean: concepts which point to the next paradigm. The first paper re-conceptualized relativistic length contraction in terms of dimensional abatement [1], and this paper will re-conceptualize relativistic time dilation in terms of what I will call ontochronic abatement, to be defined as the abatement of an object’s duration of existence within a given time interval.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Philosophy. Social Studies--Language Arts: 6414.16. INSTITUTION Dade County Public Schools, Miami, Fla
    DOCUMENT RESUME ED 086 604 SO 006 822 AUTHOR Norris, Jack A., Jr. TITLE Introduction to Philosophy. Social Studies--Language Arts: 6414.16. INSTITUTION Dade County Public Schools, Miami, Fla. PUB DATE 72 NOTE 20p.; Authorized Course of Instruction for the Quinmester Program EDRS PRICE MF-$0.65 HC-$3.29 DESCRIPTORS Course Objectives; Curriculum Guides; Grade 10; Grade 11; Grade 12; *Language Arts; Learnin4 Activities; *Logic; Non Western Civilization; *Philosophy; Resource Guides; Secondary Grades; *Social Studies; *Social Studies Units; Western Civilization IDENTIFIERS *Quinmester Program ABSTRACT Western and non - western philosophers and their ideas are introduced to 10th through 12th grade students in this general social studies Quinmester course designed to be used as a preparation for in-depth study of the various schools of philosophical thought. By acquainting students with the questions and categories of philosophy, a point of departure for further study is developed. Through suggested learning activities the meaning of philosopky is defined. The Socratic, deductive, inductive, intuitive and eclectic approaches to philosophical thought are examined, as are three general areas of philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology,and axiology. Logical reasoning is applied to major philosophical questions. This course is arranged, as are other quinmester courses, with sections on broad goals, course content, activities, and materials. A related document is ED 071 937.(KSM) FILMED FROM BEST AVAILABLE COPY U S DEPARTMENT EDUCATION OF HEALTH. NAT10N41
    [Show full text]
  • @)"'*"'O' See Fiont Matter 0039-3681/00$
    Stud.Hist. Phil. Sci.,Vol. 31, No. I, pp. l5l-112,20o0 @ 20fi) Elsevier ScienceLtd. All rights reserved Printed in Great Britain @)"'*"'o' see fiont matter www.elswier.com/locate/shpsa 0039-3681/00$ - Rudolf Carnap's oTheoreticalConcepts in Sciencet Stathis Psillos* 1. Editor's Introduction Rudolf Camapdelivered the hitherto unpublishedlecture 'TheoreticalConcepts in Science' at the meeting of the American Philosophical Association, Pacific Division, at SantaBarbarg Califomia, on 29 December1959. It was part of a symposiumon 'Camap'sviews on TheoreticalConcepts in Science'.In the bibli- ographythat appearsin the end of the volume, 'The Philosophyof Rudolf Camap', edited by Faul Arthur Schilpp, a revised version of this addressappears to be amongCamap's forthcoming papers.But although Camap startedto revise it, he never finisfusdthe revision,r and never publishedthe unrevisedtranscript. Perhaps this is becausevariants of the approachto theoreticalconcepts presented for the first time in the SantaBarbara lecture have appearedin other papersof his (cf. the editorial footnotesin Carnap'slecture). Still, I thinlq the SantaBarbara address is a little philosophical gem that needsto see the light of day. The documentthat follows is the unrevisedtanscript of Carnap's lecture.2lts style, then, is tbat of an oral presentation.I decidedto leave it as it is, making only very minor stylistic chonges-which, exceptthose related to punctuation,are indicatedby curly brack- ets.3I think that reading this lecture is a rewarding experience,punctuated as the lechne is with odd remarksand autobiographicalpoints. One can alnost envisage I Department of Philosophy and History of Science, University of Athens, Athens, Greece Received 28 Apil 1998; in revkedform I September 1998.
    [Show full text]
  • THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL AUTONOMY of CHEMISTRY By
    THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL AUTONOMY OF CHEMISTRY By ROBIN PFLUGHAUPT Integrated Studies Project submitted to Dr. Russell Thompson in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts – Integrated Studies Athabasca, Alberta November, 2009 THE EPISTEMOLOGICAL AUTONOMY OF CHEMISTRY 2 Abstract The “logicians’ program” or attempt to situate scientific methodology within a logical framework has come to a standstill following radical developments within the philosophy of science and science and technology studies. One of the most persistent concepts remaining from the traditional philosophy of science or logical empiricism however is the unification of science through the reducibility of chemical and biological phenomena to physical laws and explanations. Towards the end of the 19th century, chemistry underwent a physical revolution in order to describe dynamic processes and express chemical phenomena mathematically, and developments within quantum mechanics during the 1920s encouraged the assumption that chemistry is fully reducible to physics. Theoretical chemistry is briefly overviewed to reveal that quantum chemistry developed through the assistance of models developed within the “organic structuralist tradition” and empirical data to generate abstract approximations that are cumbersome to calculate. From these approximations, however chemists have produced powerful models, in particular molecular orbitals, that have become invaluable conceptual tools within chemistry since they “black box” quantum mechanical calculations and rationalize chemical processes. Despite shared ontology between physics and chemistry, since it is impossibly cumbersome to fully explain chemical phenomena at the particle level, there is the appearance of “emergentism” at the molecular level, and physics does not capture chemistry’s engineering ideology and “disciplinary matrices”, philosophical concepts including “supervenience” have been used to argue for the epistemological autonomy of chemistry.
    [Show full text]
  • Metaphysics Today and Tomorrow*
    1 Metaphysics Today and Tomorrow* Raphaël Millière École normale supérieure, Paris – October 2011 Translated by Mark Ohm with the assistance of Leah Orth, Jon Cogburn, and Emily Beck Cogburn “By metaphysics, I do not mean those abstract considerations of certain imaginary properties, the principal use of which is to furnish the wherewithal for endless dispute to those who want to dispute. By this science I mean the general truths which can serve as principles for the particular sciences.” Malebranche Dialogues on Metaphysics and Religion 1. The interminable agony of metaphysics Throughout the twentieth century, numerous philosophers sounded the death knell of metaphysics. Ludwig Wittgenstein, Rudolf Carnap, Martin Heidegger, Gilbert Ryle, J. L. Austin, Jacques Derrida, Jürgen Habermas, Richard Rorty, and, henceforth, Hilary Putnam: a great many tutelary figures have extolled the rejection, the exceeding, the elimination, or the deconstruction of first philosophy. All these necrological chronicles do not have the same radiance, the same seriousness, nor the same motivations, but they all agree to dismiss the discipline, which in the past was considered “the queen of the sciences”, with a violence at times comparable to the prestige it commanded at the time of its impunity. Even today, certain philosophers hastily spread the tragic news with contempt for philosophical inquiry, as if its grave solemnity bestowed upon it some obviousness. Thus, Franco Volpi writes: ‘Grand metaphysics is dead!’ is the slogan which applies to the majority of contemporary philosophers, whether continentals or of analytic profession. They all treat metaphysics as a dead dog.1 In this way, the “path of modern thought” would declare itself vociferously “anti- metaphysical and finally post-metaphysical”.
    [Show full text]
  • Kant's Critique of Judgment and the Scientific Investigation of Matter
    Kant’s Critique of Judgment and the Scientific Investigation of Matter Daniel Rothbart, Irmgard Scherer Abstract: Kant’s theory of judgment establishes the conceptual framework for understanding the subtle relationships between the experimental scientist, the modern instrument, and nature’s atomic particles. The principle of purposive- ness which governs judgment has also a role in implicitly guiding modern experimental science. In Part 1 we explore Kant’s philosophy of science as he shows how knowledge of material nature and unobservable entities is possible. In Part 2 we examine the way in which Kant’s treatment of judgment, with its operating principle of purposiveness, enters into his critical project and under- lies the possibility of rational science. In Part 3 we show that the centrality given to judgment in Kant’s conception of science provides philosophical in- sight into the investigation of atomic substances in modern chemistry. Keywords : Kant , judgment , purposiveness , experimentation , investigation of matter . Introduction Kant’s philosophy of science centers on the problem of how it is possible to acquire genuine knowledge of unobservable entities, such as atoms and molecules. “What and how much can the understanding and reason know apart from all experience?” ( CPuR , Axvii). This raises the question of the role of experiments in the knowability ( Erkennbarkeit ) and the experientiality (Erfahrbarkeit ) of nature. Kant’s insights into the character of scientific experimentation are not given the hearing they deserve. We argue that Kant’s theory of judgment establishes the conceptual framework for understanding the subtle inter- actions between the experimental chemist, the modern chemical instrument, and molecular substance.
    [Show full text]
  • KANT's Religious Argument for the Existence OF
    Kant’S REliGioUS ARGUMEnt for thE EXistENCE of God: THE UltiMatE DEPEndENCE of HUMan DEstiny on DivinE AssistanCE Stephen R. Palmquist After reviewing Kant’s well-known criticisms of the traditional proofs of God’s existence and his preferred moral argument, this paper presents a de- tailed analysis of a densely-packed theistic argument in Religion within the Bounds of Bare Reason. Humanity’s ultimate moral destiny can be fulfilled only through organized religion, for only by participating in a religious community (or “church”) can we overcome the evil in human nature. Yet we cannot conceive how such a community can even be founded without presupposing God’s existence. Viewing God as the internal moral lawgiv- er, empowering a community of believers, is Kant’s ultimate rationale for theistic belief. I. The Practical Orientation of Kantian Theology Kant is well known for attacking three traditional attempts to prove God’s existence: the ontological, cosmological and physico-theological (or teleological) arguments. All such “theoretical” arguments inevita- bly fail, he claimed, because their aim (achieving certain knowledge of God’s existence) transcends the capabilities of human reason. Viewed from the theoretical standpoint, God is not an object of possible human knowledge, but an idea that inevitably arises as a by-product of the to- talizing tendencies of human reason. The very process of obtaining em- pirical knowledge gives rise to the concept “God,” and this enables us to think and reason about what God’s nature must be if God exists; yet we have no “intuition” of God (neither through sensible input nor in any “pure” form), so we can have no reasonable hope of obtaining theoretical knowledge of God’s existence.
    [Show full text]
  • A Critical Analysis of Immanuel Kant's Groundwork of the Metaphysics Of
    International Journal of Research and Review www.ijrrjournal.com E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 Original Research Article A Critical Analysis of Immanuel Kant’s Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals Abraham Tsehay Jemberie Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia ABSTRACT Immanuel Kant (1724-1804), a German philosopher, is considered as the father of modern ethics and one of the great philosophers in the history of philosophy. He wanted to establish firm foundation for moral philosophy. He contributed something new to modern ethics which was not attempted by earlier ethicists. He wanted to show by using reason that morality is based on a single supreme universal principle, which is binding to all rational beings. Precisely, Kant wanted to establish the first principle of morality which neglects all consideration of self-interest and even particular human problems. In the Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, Kant claimed that his intention is to seek out and establish the supreme principle of morality, and that supreme principle is the categorical imperative. He puts the supreme principle of morality or the categorical imperative in at least five ways. These are formula of universal law (FUL), formula of universal law (FLN), formula of humanity (FH), formula of humanity (FA), and formula of realm of ends (FRE). However, Kant affirms that there is one canonical and general formulation of the categorical imperative and it is the FUL. For him, the other formulas are not distinct ethical principles; rather they are the reformulations or variant formulations of the single categorical imperative. Kant put this position in his works, The Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.
    [Show full text]
  • Conversations with Alan Musgrave
    Rationality and Reality STUDIES IN HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE VOLUME 20 General Editor: S. GAUKROGER, University of Sydney Editorial Advisory Board: RACHEL ANKENY, University of Sydney STEVEN FRENCH, University of Leeds DAVID PAPINEAU, King’ s College London NICHOLAS RASMUSSEN, University of New South Wales JOHN SCHUSTER, University of New South Wales RICHARD YEO, Griffith University RATIONALITY AND REALITY Conversations with Alan Musgrave Edited by COLIN CHEYNE University of Otago, DDunedin, New Zealand and JOHN WORRALL London School of Economics, London, UK A C.I.P. Catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN-10 1-4020-4206-X (HB) ISBN-13 978-1-4020-4206-X (HB) ISBN-10 1-4020-4207-8 (e-book) ISBN-13 978-1-4020-4207-8 (e-book) Published by Springer, P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands. www.springer.com Cover: Photograph of Alan Musgrave used with kind permission of Gudrun Perin, Guelph, Canada Printed on acid-free paper All Rights Reserved © 2006 Springer No part of this work may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher, with the exception of any material supplied specifically for the purpose of being entered and executed on a computer system, for exclusive use by the purchaser of the work. Printed in the Netherlands. TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements vii Notes on Contributors ix COLIN CHEYNE / Introduction 1 GREGORY CURRIE / Where Does the Burden of Theory Lie? 7 COLIN CHEYNE / Testimony, Induction and Reasonable Belief 19 JOHN WORRALL / Theory-Confirmation and History 31 DEBORAH G.
    [Show full text]
  • Contemporary Issues Concerning Scientific Realism
    The Future of the Scientific Realism Debate: Contemporary Issues Concerning Scientific Realism Author(s): Curtis Forbes Source: Spontaneous Generations: A Journal for the History and Philosophy of Science, Vol. 9, No. 1 (2018) 1-11. Published by: The University of Toronto DOI: 10.4245/sponge.v9i1. EDITORIALOFFICES Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology Room 316 Victoria College, 91 Charles Street West Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1K7 [email protected] Published online at jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/SpontaneousGenerations ISSN 1913 0465 Founded in 2006, Spontaneous Generations is an online academic journal published by graduate students at the Institute for the History and Philosophy of Science and Technology, University of Toronto. There is no subscription or membership fee. Spontaneous Generations provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. The Future of the Scientific Realism Debate: Contemporary Issues Concerning Scientific Realism Curtis Forbes* I. Introduction “Philosophy,” Plato’s Socrates said, “begins in wonder” (Theaetetus, 155d). Two and a half millennia later, Alfred North Whitehead saw fit to add: “And, at the end, when philosophical thought has done its best, the wonder remains” (1938, 168). Nevertheless, we tend to no longer wonder about many questions that would have stumped (if not vexed) the ancients: “Why does water expand when it freezes?” “How can one substance change into another?” “What allows the sun to continue to shine so brightly, day after day, while all other sources of light and warmth exhaust their fuel sources at a rate in proportion to their brilliance?” Whitehead’s addendum to Plato was not wrong, however, in the sense that we derive our answers to such questions from the theories, models, and methods of modern science, not the systems, speculations, and arguments of modern philosophy.
    [Show full text]