The Deep Black Sea
Observability and Modality Afloat
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 8396558 |
|---|---|
| Authors | F A Muller, Frederik Muller (0000-0002-7343-4649, Utrecht University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2005 |
| Volume | 56 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 61-99 |
| Publication date | 2005-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-0882 • E-ISSN: 1464-3537 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/phisci/axi103 |
| OpenAlex | W2143437464 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 9 |
| References cited | 11 |
In the spirit of B. C. van Fraassen's view of science called Constructive Empiricism, we propose a scientific criterion to decide whether a concrete object is observable, as well as a coextensive scientific-philosophical definition of observability, and we sketch a rigorous account of modal language occurring in science. We claim that our account of observability solves three problems to which current accounts of observability, notably van Fraassen's own accounts, give rise. We further claim that our account of modal propositions (subjunctive conditionals included), which proceeds wholly within the framework of the semantic view on scientific theories, grounds his claim that such an account is possible without relying on ‘inflationary metaphysics’, notably without postulating an infinitude of different universes besides the universe we inhabit. We thus claim to solve a fourth problem: how to give a precise nominalist account of modal language in science tailor-made for Constructive Empiricism. 1. Introduction: Rough Guides 2. The semantic view and the wave theory of light 3. A scientific guide and a scientific criterion 4. A New Rough Guide and a definition 5. The Context Problem and Psillos' Problem 6. Musgrave's Problem 7. Modality without inflationary metaphysics 8. Exitum
Algorithm · Constructive · Context (archaeology) · Empiricism · Epistemology · Linguistics · Metaphysics · Object (grammar) · Observability · Philosophy of science · Physicalism · Sketch · Computer Science · History · Logic, Reasoning, and Knowledge · Marine and environmental studies · Mathematics · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science
Constructive Empiricism and Deflationary Truth
Can a Constructive Empiricist Adopt the Concept of Observability
Expanding Observability via Human-Machine Cooperation
Counterfactual reasoning within physical theories
Withering away, weakly
Reflections on the revolution at Stanford
Saving Unobservable Phenomena
O empirismo construtivo e o argumento de Musgrave
O Empirismo Construtivo, a Distinção entre Observar e Observar Que e a Intencionalidade
Critical Scientific Realism
Modal Logic
Can a Constructive Empiricist Adopt the Concept of Observability
On McMullin's Appreciation of Realism Concerning the Sciences
The Time Machine
Constructive Empiricism and Modal Nominalism
What's Really Wrong with Constructive Empiricism? Van Fraassen and the Metaphysics of Modality
The Only Necessity is Verbal Necessity
The scientific image
| Unique citing works | 9 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,41 |
| Citation span | 2004 - 2022 (19) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 7 |