On the significance of idealizations in sciene

Download

index.pdf

Date

2005

Author

Eyim, Ahmet

Metadata

Show full item record

Item Usage Stats

214
views

231
downloads

The aim of this thesis is to investigate the problems that use of idealizations in science leads to. Idealizations are simplifications and therefore false descriptions of how actual objects behave. Presence of idealizations in scientific theories is the reason for the problems in our understanding of confirmation of theories and also of scientific explanations. Nevertheless, idealizations are ubiquitous especially in natural sciences. Scientists have to employ idealizations because of the complexity of the real world and our limited capacity of computation. The roots of the methodology of modern science are in Cartesian philosophy. I propose that Descartes also employed idealizations in his theory of motion in the universe. Idealized worlds can be regarded as simplifications of the real world. Scientific theories are literally false but they are true in the possible worlds which are similar to the real world. Models provide the connections between idealized laws and the real world. Construction of models of the actual world is based upon idealizations which are indispensable in the theoretical sciences. Theories can be indirectly confirmed by models denoting different aspects of the phenomena.

Subject Keywords

Knowledge, Theory of

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12605777/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/15016

Collections

Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis

Suggestions

OpenMETU
Core

Critique of epistemic externalism and defense of foundationalist internalism Altuğ, Ali Haydar; Ceylan, Yasin; Department of Philosophy (2015) This thesis argues that epistemic externalism is untenable and defends that, although facing some severe problems, internalism is the only possible remaining option for a theory of knowledge and justification. It defends a foundationalist version of internalism, in which one’s beliefs about her own state of mind are taken to be certain. In this way, together with propositions of logic and mathematics, foundationalist requirement of certain and basic beliefs is rendered. Further, based on Laurence Bonjour’s ...
A coherentist approach to the justification of scientific theories Kamözüt, Mehmet Cem; Sayan, Erdinç; Department of Philosophy (2008) Philosophers of science have long realized that it is not possible to decide which scientific theory is true just by relying on their empirical adequacy. That theories should possess other virtues in order to be accepted by the scientific community is well understood. Nevertheless, empirical adequacy remained as having a privileged value among these virtues. In this thesis I argue that scientific theories are accepted or rejected on the bases of an evaluation of their degree of coherence. In such a coherent...
The quiddity of knowledge in Kant's critical philosophy Serin, İsmail; Ceylan, Yasin; Department of Philosophy (2004) In this thesis the quiddity of knowledge in Kant's critical philosophy has been investigated within the historical context of the problem. In order to illustrate the origins of the subject-matter of the dissertation, the historical background of Kant's views on the theory of knowledge has been researched too. As a result of this research, it is concluded that Kant did not invent a new philosophical problem, but he tried to improve a decisive solution for one of the oldest question of history of philosophy i...
Marx's epistemology : the relationship between reality and knowledge Can, Eren; Parkan, Barış; Department of Philosophy (2011) The purpose of this thesis is to elaborate on the Marx’s theory of knowledge. Historical materialism presented in the German Ideology and the methodological remarks in Grundrisse have led to many discussions concerning the relation between knowledge and reality in Marx’s philosophy. This thesis tried to explore the interrelationships between the kinds of knowledge we produce, abstract concepts and the concrete material conditions, as elaborated by Marx. In contrast to traditional epistemology, and more alon...
The formation of the self as mental unity and moral agency in hume’s philosophy Neslioğlu, E. Funda; Grünberg, David; Department of Philosophy (2008) This dissertation proposes to analyze the stages in the formation of the idea of self in Hume’s philosophy. According to Hume we have no a simple and individual impression that we can call the self where the self is the totality of conscious life of a person. Nevertheless, we do have an idea of personal identity that must be accounted for. He begins his explanation of this idea by noting that our perceptions are fleeting, and he concludes from this that all we are is a bundle of different perceptions. But ...

Citation Formats

A. Eyim, “On the significance of idealizations in sciene,” M.A. - Master of Arts, Middle East Technical University, 2005.