Combining Philosophers
Ideas for William James, Nancy Cartwright and Adam Swift
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18 ideas
14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 1. Observation
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Scientific genius extracts more than other people from the same evidence [James]
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14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 6. Falsification
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Experimenters assume the theory is true, and stick to it as long as result don't disappoint [James]
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14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 1. Scientific Theory
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Theories can never represent accurately, because their components are abstract [Cartwright,N, by Portides]
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14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 2. Aim of Science
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Theories are practical tools for progress, not answers to enigmas [James]
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14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 3. Instrumentalism
18985
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True thoughts are just valuable instruments of action [James]
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18982
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Pragmatism says all theories are instrumental - that is, mental modes of adaptation to reality [James]
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14. Science / C. Induction / 3. Limits of Induction
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We can't know if the laws of nature are stable, but we must postulate it or assume it [James]
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14. Science / C. Induction / 6. Bayes's Theorem
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Trying to assess probabilities by mere calculation is absurd and impossible [James]
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / a. Types of explanation
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Two main types of explanation are by causes, or by citing a theoretical framework [Cartwright,N]
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / c. Explanations by coherence
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An explanation is a model that fits a theory and predicts the phenomenological laws [Cartwright,N]
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations
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The covering law view assumes that each phenomenon has a 'right' explanation [Cartwright,N]
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16167
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Laws get the facts wrong, and explanation rests on improvements and qualifications of laws [Cartwright,N]
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16169
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Laws apply to separate domains, but real explanations apply to intersecting domains [Cartwright,N]
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16176
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Covering-law explanation lets us explain storms by falling barometers [Cartwright,N]
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16177
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I disagree with the covering-law view that there is a law to cover every single case [Cartwright,N]
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16180
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You can't explain one quail's behaviour by just saying that all quails do it [Cartwright,N]
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / j. Explanations by reduction
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We have a passion for knowing the parts of something, rather than the whole [James]
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14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / c. Against best explanation
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In science, best explanations have regularly turned out to be false [Cartwright,N]
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