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There Are No Such Things as Theories

โœ Scribed by Steven French


Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
2020
Tongue
English
Leaves
283
Category
Library

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โœฆ Synopsis


There Are No Such Things as Theories considers the fundamental question: what is a scientific theory? It presents a range of options - from theories are sets of propositions, to theories are families of models, abstract artefacts, or fictions - and highlights the various problems they all face. In so doing it draws multiple comparisons between theories and artworks: on the one hand, theories are like certain kinds of paintings with regard to their representational capacity; on the other, they are like musical works in that they can be multiply presented. An alternative answer to the question is then offered, drawing on the metaphysics of musical works: there are no such things as theories. Nevertheless, we can still talk about them, since that talk is made true by the various practices that scientists engage in. The implications of this form of eliminativism for the realism debate is then discussed and it is concluded that this may offer a more flexible framework in which we can understand both the history and the philosophy of science in general.

โœฆ Table of Contents


Dedication
Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. Theories as Sets of Propositions
2. Theories as Families of Models
3. Theories as Representations
4. Theories as Abstract Entities
5. Theories as Abstract Artefacts
6. Theories as Fictions
7. Theories Eliminated!
8. Theories in History and Practice
9. Theories in the Realism Debate
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index


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