Henk W De Regt
Biographic Data
| ID | 962028 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Henk W De Regt |
| GIVEN NAMES | Henk W |
| FAMILY NAME | De Regt |
| SIGNATURE | DE REGT H W |
| AFFILIATIONS | Radboud University Nijmegen |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-0580-0755 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 122 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 19 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 2 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1996 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback in LLMs: Whose Culture, Whose Values, Whose Perspectives
We argue for the epistemic and ethical advantages of pluralism in Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) in the context of Large Language Models (LLMs). Drawing on social epistemology and pluralist philosophy of science, we suggest ways in which RHLF can be made more responsive to human needs and how we can address challenges along the way. The paper concludes with an agenda for change, i.e. concrete, actionable steps to improve LLM de…
Two scientific perspectives on nerve signal propagation: How incompatible approaches jointly promote progress in explanatory understanding
We present a case study of two scientific perspectives on the phenomenon of nerve signal propagation, a bio-electric and a thermodynamic perspective, and compare this case with two accounts of scientific perspectivism: those of Michela Massimi and Juha Saatsi, respectively. We demonstrate that the interaction between the bio-electric perspective and the thermodynamic perspective can be captured in Saatsi's terms of progress in explanatory underst…
Metaphors as tools for understanding in science communication among experts and to the public
Science communication is highly important in present-day society. But mere factual information transfer does not suffice for enhancing public understanding of scientific results, theories, and concepts. In this paper we compare science communication among experts with communication from experts to laypeople, to better understand the role of metaphors in constructing understanding of abstract scientific concepts. As a case study, we analyze specia…
Understanding in synthetic chemistry: The case of periplanone B
Understanding natural phenomena is an important aim of science. Since the turn of the millennium the notion of scientific understanding has been a hot topic of debate in the philosophy of science. A bone of contention in this debate is the role of truth and representational accuracy in scientific understanding. So-called factivists and non-factivists disagree about the extent to which the theories and models that are used to achieve understanding…
A precipice below which lies absurdity? Theories without a spacetime and scientific understanding
While the relation between visualization and scientific understanding has been a topic of long-standing discussion, recent developments in physics have pushed the boundaries of this debate to new and still unexplored realms. For it is claimed that, in certain theories of quantum gravity, spacetime ‘disappears’: and this suggests that one may have sensible physical theories in which spacetime is completely absent. This makes the philosophical ques…
Understanding, Values, and the Aims of Science
The understanding that comes with scientific explanation is regarded as one of the central epistemic aims of science. In earlier work I have argued that scientists achieve understanding of phenomena by basing their explanations on intelligible theories, where intelligibility is a contextually determined value. In this article, I address the question of how the aim of understanding relates to other epistemic aims of science, such as prediction of …
Understanding Scientific Understanding
This book is about scientific understanding. It is widely acknowledged that a central aim of science is to achieve understanding of the world around us, and that possessing such understanding is highly important in our present-day society. But what does it mean to achieve this understanding? What precisely is scientific understanding? These are philosophical questions that have not yet received satisfactory answers. While there has been an ongoin…
Scientific understanding: Truth or dare
Understanding and explanation: Living apart together
Epsa Philosophy of Science: Amsterdam 2009
Epsa Philosophy of Science: Amsterdam 2009
Scientific Understanding: Philosophical Perspectives
The Epistemic Value of Understanding
This article analyzes the epistemic value of understanding and offers an account of the role of understanding in science. First, I discuss the objectivist view of the relation between explanation and understanding, defended by Carl Hempel and J. D. Trout. I challenge this view by arguing that pragmatic aspects of explanation are crucial for achieving the epistemic aims of science. Subsequently, I present an analysis of these pragmatic aspects in …
A Contextual Approach to Scientific Understanding
Discussion Note: Making Sense of Understanding
J.D. Trout (2002) presents a challenge to all theorists of scientific explanation who appeal to the notion of understanding. Trout denounces understanding as irrelevant, if not dangerous, from an epistemic perspective and he endorses a radically objectivist view of explanation instead. In this note I accept Trout's challenge. I criticize his argument and defend a non-objectivist, pragmatic conception of understanding that is epistemically relevan…
Spacetime Visualisation and the Intelligibility of Physical Theories
Ludwig Boltzmann: His Later Life and Philosophy, 1900-1906. Book 2: The Philosopher . John Blackmore
Ludwig Boltzmann's Bildtheorie and Scientific Understanding
Explaining the splendour of science
Erwin Schrödinger, Anschaulichkeit, and quantum theory
Philosophy and the Kinetic Theory of Gases
This article examines the role of philosophy in the development of the kinetic theory of gases. Two opposing accounts of this role, by Peter Clark and John Nyhof, are discussed and criticized. Contrary to both accounts, it is argued that philosophical views of scientists can fundamentally influence the results of their scientific work. This claim is supported by a detailed analysis of the philosophical views of Maxwell and Boltzmann, and of their…
A Contextual Approach to Scientific Understanding
The Epistemic Value of Understanding
This article analyzes the epistemic value of understanding and offers an account of the role of understanding in science. First, I discuss the objectivist view of the relation between explanation and understanding, defended by Carl Hempel and J. D. Trout. I challenge this view by arguing that pragmatic aspects of explanation are crucial for achieving the epistemic aims of science. Subsequently, I present an analysis of these pragmatic aspects in …
Scientific understanding: Truth or dare
Discussion Note: Making Sense of Understanding
J.D. Trout (2002) presents a challenge to all theorists of scientific explanation who appeal to the notion of understanding. Trout denounces understanding as irrelevant, if not dangerous, from an epistemic perspective and he endorses a radically objectivist view of explanation instead. In this note I accept Trout's challenge. I criticize his argument and defend a non-objectivist, pragmatic conception of understanding that is epistemically relevan…
Understanding, Values, and the Aims of Science
The understanding that comes with scientific explanation is regarded as one of the central epistemic aims of science. In earlier work I have argued that scientists achieve understanding of phenomena by basing their explanations on intelligible theories, where intelligibility is a contextually determined value. In this article, I address the question of how the aim of understanding relates to other epistemic aims of science, such as prediction of …
Ludwig Boltzmann's Bildtheorie and Scientific Understanding
A precipice below which lies absurdity? Theories without a spacetime and scientific understanding
While the relation between visualization and scientific understanding has been a topic of long-standing discussion, recent developments in physics have pushed the boundaries of this debate to new and still unexplored realms. For it is claimed that, in certain theories of quantum gravity, spacetime ‘disappears’: and this suggests that one may have sensible physical theories in which spacetime is completely absent. This makes the philosophical ques…
Understanding and explanation: Living apart together
Explaining the splendour of science
Philosophy and the Kinetic Theory of Gases
This article examines the role of philosophy in the development of the kinetic theory of gases. Two opposing accounts of this role, by Peter Clark and John Nyhof, are discussed and criticized. Contrary to both accounts, it is argued that philosophical views of scientists can fundamentally influence the results of their scientific work. This claim is supported by a detailed analysis of the philosophical views of Maxwell and Boltzmann, and of their…
Philosophy and the Kinetic Theory of Gases
This article examines the role of philosophy in the development of the kinetic theory of gases. Two opposing accounts of this role, by Peter Clark and John Nyhof, are discussed and criticized. Contrary to both accounts, it is argued that philosophical views of scientists can fundamentally influence the results of their scientific work. This claim is supported by a detailed analysis of the philosophical views of Maxwell and Boltzmann, and of their…
Erwin Schrödinger, Anschaulichkeit, and quantum theory
Explaining the splendour of science
Ludwig Boltzmann's Bildtheorie and Scientific Understanding
Ludwig Boltzmann: His Later Life and Philosophy, 1900-1906. Book 2: The Philosopher . John Blackmore
Spacetime Visualisation and the Intelligibility of Physical Theories
Discussion Note: Making Sense of Understanding
J.D. Trout (2002) presents a challenge to all theorists of scientific explanation who appeal to the notion of understanding. Trout denounces understanding as irrelevant, if not dangerous, from an epistemic perspective and he endorses a radically objectivist view of explanation instead. In this note I accept Trout's challenge. I criticize his argument and defend a non-objectivist, pragmatic conception of understanding that is epistemically relevan…
A Contextual Approach to Scientific Understanding
Scientific Understanding: Philosophical Perspectives
The Epistemic Value of Understanding
This article analyzes the epistemic value of understanding and offers an account of the role of understanding in science. First, I discuss the objectivist view of the relation between explanation and understanding, defended by Carl Hempel and J. D. Trout. I challenge this view by arguing that pragmatic aspects of explanation are crucial for achieving the epistemic aims of science. Subsequently, I present an analysis of these pragmatic aspects in …
Epsa Philosophy of Science: Amsterdam 2009
Epsa Philosophy of Science: Amsterdam 2009
Understanding and explanation: Living apart together
Scientific understanding: Truth or dare
Understanding Scientific Understanding
This book is about scientific understanding. It is widely acknowledged that a central aim of science is to achieve understanding of the world around us, and that possessing such understanding is highly important in our present-day society. But what does it mean to achieve this understanding? What precisely is scientific understanding? These are philosophical questions that have not yet received satisfactory answers. While there has been an ongoin…
A precipice below which lies absurdity? Theories without a spacetime and scientific understanding
While the relation between visualization and scientific understanding has been a topic of long-standing discussion, recent developments in physics have pushed the boundaries of this debate to new and still unexplored realms. For it is claimed that, in certain theories of quantum gravity, spacetime ‘disappears’: and this suggests that one may have sensible physical theories in which spacetime is completely absent. This makes the philosophical ques…
Understanding, Values, and the Aims of Science
The understanding that comes with scientific explanation is regarded as one of the central epistemic aims of science. In earlier work I have argued that scientists achieve understanding of phenomena by basing their explanations on intelligible theories, where intelligibility is a contextually determined value. In this article, I address the question of how the aim of understanding relates to other epistemic aims of science, such as prediction of …
Understanding in synthetic chemistry: The case of periplanone B
Understanding natural phenomena is an important aim of science. Since the turn of the millennium the notion of scientific understanding has been a hot topic of debate in the philosophy of science. A bone of contention in this debate is the role of truth and representational accuracy in scientific understanding. So-called factivists and non-factivists disagree about the extent to which the theories and models that are used to achieve understanding…
Metaphors as tools for understanding in science communication among experts and to the public
Science communication is highly important in present-day society. But mere factual information transfer does not suffice for enhancing public understanding of scientific results, theories, and concepts. In this paper we compare science communication among experts with communication from experts to laypeople, to better understand the role of metaphors in constructing understanding of abstract scientific concepts. As a case study, we analyze specia…
Two scientific perspectives on nerve signal propagation: How incompatible approaches jointly promote progress in explanatory understanding
We present a case study of two scientific perspectives on the phenomenon of nerve signal propagation, a bio-electric and a thermodynamic perspective, and compare this case with two accounts of scientific perspectivism: those of Michela Massimi and Juha Saatsi, respectively. We demonstrate that the interaction between the bio-electric perspective and the thermodynamic perspective can be captured in Saatsi's terms of progress in explanatory underst…
Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback in LLMs: Whose Culture, Whose Values, Whose Perspectives
We argue for the epistemic and ethical advantages of pluralism in Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF) in the context of Large Language Models (LLMs). Drawing on social epistemology and pluralist philosophy of science, we suggest ways in which RHLF can be made more responsive to human needs and how we can address challenges along the way. The paper concludes with an agenda for change, i.e. concrete, actionable steps to improve LLM de…
Philosophy (18 works) · Epistemology (17 works) · Philosophy and History of Science (15 works) · Computer Science (14 works) · Philosophy of science (10 works) · Science and Climate Studies (8 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Scientific theory (6 works) · Artificial Intelligence (5 works) · Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics (5 works)