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Introductory Topics in The Philosophy of Natural Science (Hacking, 1983)

This document provides an overview and outline of Ian Hacking's 1983 book "Representing and Intervening". It discusses Hacking's views on scientific realism and the role of experimentation and observation in scientific progress. Key points include that Hacking argues scientific entities can be "created" through experimental manipulation and intervention in nature, and that the ability to spray or otherwise intervene with theoretical entities provides evidence for their realness and scientific realism. The document also notes some criticisms of Hacking's arguments, such as the lack of a fully worked out argument and issues around non-manipulable entities like black holes.

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Matt Edbrooke
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93 views19 pages

Introductory Topics in The Philosophy of Natural Science (Hacking, 1983)

This document provides an overview and outline of Ian Hacking's 1983 book "Representing and Intervening". It discusses Hacking's views on scientific realism and the role of experimentation and observation in scientific progress. Key points include that Hacking argues scientific entities can be "created" through experimental manipulation and intervention in nature, and that the ability to spray or otherwise intervene with theoretical entities provides evidence for their realness and scientific realism. The document also notes some criticisms of Hacking's arguments, such as the lack of a fully worked out argument and issues around non-manipulable entities like black holes.

Uploaded by

Matt Edbrooke
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Representing and Intervening:

Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science


(Hacking, 1983)

Contents:
Section A (Representing)
Section B (Intervening) Criticisms of Representing + Intervening Questions

Rationality
Rationality/ Realism Distinction

Kuhn against Popper/ Carnap Question of rationality not addressed

Theory and Entity Realism


Realism and Anti-realism
Theory/ Entity Distinction Independence of Theory/ Entity Realism Hackings Drift

Causalist Entity Realism


Materialism/ Causalism distinction Faraday and lines of force

Experimental Entities created

Inference to a Cause
Inference to best explanation

Scientific progress by hypothesis. Inference to a cause experiment as driver of scientific progress.

Incommensurability
Topic- , dissociation and meaningincommensurability Putnams Fregean correspondence-theory
Used instrumentally to cite scientific realism as plausible.

Reals and Representations


All ideas lead to an idealist cul-desac

People represent the world around them Neither theory realism nor antirealism represents the world sufficiently.

Part B - Intervening
Use of Experimentation/ Observation How does experimental science work?

Experimentation
Bacon and Experiment

Focus on Experimental Science preceding theory


Entities prior to theories.

Observation Observation/ theory distinction


Hansons theory-loaded observation Rationality implied Some loading of theory on apparatus

Observation/ Intervention
Cooperation required between experimentalists/ theoreticians Experimenter as alert and observant person.
Experiment as active process.

Case Study: Microscopes


Dont just peer, interfere

Low-level generalizations allow us to control/ create phenomena


Breeds conviction for the scientist

The Creation of Phenomena


Experiments improved, not created Phenomena isolated and complexity analysed

Case Study: Electrons


Experimental manipulation as evidence for Scientific Realism Building of apparatus enabling experimentation

If you can spray them, they are real


Causalist entity realism and magnetic lines
Ability to use theoretical entities to intervene in nature. Usage as a diverse set of activities

Criticisms: Success of Theory


Ability to formulate structures which explain and predict

Evolutionary account of success

Criticisms: Black Holes


Cant manipulate them

Comparison with occult powers Some entities only known through theory.

Criticisms: Argument
Little in the way of worked out argument
However, provision of examples

Primacy of experiment dont just peer, interfere!

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