Raphael Van Riel
Biographic Data
| ID | 332984 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Raphael Van Riel |
| GIVEN NAMES | Raphael |
| FAMILY NAME | Van Riel |
| SIGNATURE | VAN RIEL R |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Duisburg-Essen |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2061-8599 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 23 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 13 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 1 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Representationalist physicalism
In this paper, I discuss a view proposed by Carl Hempel in his paper Reduction: Ontological and Linguistic Facets, published in 1969. Here, Hempel suggested that questions regarding the identification of mental states with physiological states, the relation between sociological phenomena and individual behavioral states, and between biological and physicochemical states should be given what he calls a ‘linguistic’ interpretation. His main point i…
Weberian ideal type construction as concept replacement
This paper contains a novel and coherent reading of Weberian ideal type construction, based on recent philosophical approaches to conceptual engineering. This reading makes transparent the dialectics of Weber's approach, resulting in a more nuanced interpretation of his methodological work. It will become apparent that Weber, when introducing his notion of an ideal type, did not merely summarize his views on methodology in the social sciences, bu…
Social Functions in Philosophy: Metaphysical, Normative, and Methodological Perspectives
In Search of the Missing Mechanism. Functional Explanation in Social Science
Functionalism, once a dominant view in sociology, social anthropology, and Marxist thought, has largely been abandoned as an approach to understanding social structure. Arguments against functionalism vary depending on the intended target. This chapter introduces a general characterization of a functional explanation and comment on MMA. It explains the distinction between descriptive and explanatory functionalism, as it is introduced by Jon Elest…
Philosophical methods under scrutiny: Introduction to the special issue philosophical methods
Aussagen- und Prädikatenlogik
Dieses Lehrbuch vermittelt Grundlagen der Aussagen- und Prädikatenlogik; zur optimalen Vorbereitung der Logik-Prüfung für Philosoph/innen.
Aussagen- und Prädikatenlogik: Eine Einführung
Mental Disorder and the Indirect Construction of Social Facts
In this paper, I argue for two claims, (i) that on a common conception of the second order property of being a mental disorder, some facts about mental disorders are the result of social constructions, and (ii) that the way facts about mental disorders are constructed differs from the received view on social construction. The difference is examined, a novel type of social construction is identified, and it is suggested that there are numerous oth…
The content of model-based information
Understanding through modeling: The explanatory power of inadequate representation
The Concept of Reduction
Identity, Asymmetry, and the Relevance of Meanings for Models of Reduction
Assume that water reduces to H2O. If so, water is identical to H2O (according to one interpretation of the term ‘reduction’). At the same time, if water reduces to H2O, then H2O does not reduce to water—the reduction relation is asymmetric. This generates a puzzle—if water just is H2O, it is hard to see how we can account for the asymmetry of the reduction relation. The article proposes a solution to this puzzle. It is argued that (i) the reducti…
Nagelian Reduction beyond the Nagel Model
Nagel's official model of theory reduction and the way it is represented in the literature are shown to be incompatible with the careful remarks on the notion of reduction Nagel gave while developing his model. Based on these remarks, an alternative model is outlined, which does not face some of the problems the official model faces. Taking the context in which Nagel developed his model into account, it is shown that the way Nagel shaped his mode…
On how we perceive the social world. Criticizing Gallagher’s view on direct perception and outlining an alternative
The content of model-based information
Weberian ideal type construction as concept replacement
This paper contains a novel and coherent reading of Weberian ideal type construction, based on recent philosophical approaches to conceptual engineering. This reading makes transparent the dialectics of Weber's approach, resulting in a more nuanced interpretation of his methodological work. It will become apparent that Weber, when introducing his notion of an ideal type, did not merely summarize his views on methodology in the social sciences, bu…
Nagelian Reduction beyond the Nagel Model
Nagel's official model of theory reduction and the way it is represented in the literature are shown to be incompatible with the careful remarks on the notion of reduction Nagel gave while developing his model. Based on these remarks, an alternative model is outlined, which does not face some of the problems the official model faces. Taking the context in which Nagel developed his model into account, it is shown that the way Nagel shaped his mode…
The Concept of Reduction
Identity, Asymmetry, and the Relevance of Meanings for Models of Reduction
Assume that water reduces to H2O. If so, water is identical to H2O (according to one interpretation of the term ‘reduction’). At the same time, if water reduces to H2O, then H2O does not reduce to water—the reduction relation is asymmetric. This generates a puzzle—if water just is H2O, it is hard to see how we can account for the asymmetry of the reduction relation. The article proposes a solution to this puzzle. It is argued that (i) the reducti…
Philosophical methods under scrutiny: Introduction to the special issue philosophical methods
Understanding through modeling: The explanatory power of inadequate representation
On how we perceive the social world. Criticizing Gallagher’s view on direct perception and outlining an alternative
Nagelian Reduction beyond the Nagel Model
Nagel's official model of theory reduction and the way it is represented in the literature are shown to be incompatible with the careful remarks on the notion of reduction Nagel gave while developing his model. Based on these remarks, an alternative model is outlined, which does not face some of the problems the official model faces. Taking the context in which Nagel developed his model into account, it is shown that the way Nagel shaped his mode…
Identity, Asymmetry, and the Relevance of Meanings for Models of Reduction
Assume that water reduces to H2O. If so, water is identical to H2O (according to one interpretation of the term ‘reduction’). At the same time, if water reduces to H2O, then H2O does not reduce to water—the reduction relation is asymmetric. This generates a puzzle—if water just is H2O, it is hard to see how we can account for the asymmetry of the reduction relation. The article proposes a solution to this puzzle. It is argued that (i) the reducti…
The Concept of Reduction
The content of model-based information
Understanding through modeling: The explanatory power of inadequate representation
Mental Disorder and the Indirect Construction of Social Facts
In this paper, I argue for two claims, (i) that on a common conception of the second order property of being a mental disorder, some facts about mental disorders are the result of social constructions, and (ii) that the way facts about mental disorders are constructed differs from the received view on social construction. The difference is examined, a novel type of social construction is identified, and it is suggested that there are numerous oth…
Aussagen- und Prädikatenlogik
Dieses Lehrbuch vermittelt Grundlagen der Aussagen- und Prädikatenlogik; zur optimalen Vorbereitung der Logik-Prüfung für Philosoph/innen.
Aussagen- und Prädikatenlogik: Eine Einführung
Social Functions in Philosophy: Metaphysical, Normative, and Methodological Perspectives
In Search of the Missing Mechanism. Functional Explanation in Social Science
Functionalism, once a dominant view in sociology, social anthropology, and Marxist thought, has largely been abandoned as an approach to understanding social structure. Arguments against functionalism vary depending on the intended target. This chapter introduces a general characterization of a functional explanation and comment on MMA. It explains the distinction between descriptive and explanatory functionalism, as it is introduced by Jon Elest…
Philosophical methods under scrutiny: Introduction to the special issue philosophical methods
Representationalist physicalism
In this paper, I discuss a view proposed by Carl Hempel in his paper Reduction: Ontological and Linguistic Facets, published in 1969. Here, Hempel suggested that questions regarding the identification of mental states with physiological states, the relation between sociological phenomena and individual behavioral states, and between biological and physicochemical states should be given what he calls a ‘linguistic’ interpretation. His main point i…
Weberian ideal type construction as concept replacement
This paper contains a novel and coherent reading of Weberian ideal type construction, based on recent philosophical approaches to conceptual engineering. This reading makes transparent the dialectics of Weber's approach, resulting in a more nuanced interpretation of his methodological work. It will become apparent that Weber, when introducing his notion of an ideal type, did not merely summarize his views on methodology in the social sciences, bu…
Epistemology (11 works) · Philosophy (11 works) · Philosophy and History of Science (8 works) · Computer Science (7 works) · Mathematics (4 works) · Metaphysics (4 works) · Psychology (4 works) · Sociology (4 works) · Linguistics (3 works) · Philosophy of language (3 works)