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Single Idea 7026
[filed under theme 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 2. Aim of Science
]
Full Idea
The sciences are sometimes said to be in the business of identifying and classifying powers; the mass of an electron, its spin and charge, could be regarded as powers possessed by the electron; science is silent on an electron's qualities.
Gist of Idea
Science is sometimes said to classify powers, neglecting qualities
Source
John Heil (From an Ontological Point of View [2003], 11.2)
Book Ref
Heil,John: 'From an Ontological Point of View' [OUP 2005], p.114
A Reaction
Heil raises the possibility that qualities are real, despite the silence of science; he wants colour to be a real quality. I like the simpler version of science. Qualities are the mental effects of powers; there exist substances, powers and effects.
The
15 ideas
with the same theme
[what science is trying to achieve, in general]:
21950
|
Science must clear away the idols of the mind if they are ever going to find the truth
[Bacon]
|
18971
|
Theories are practical tools for progress, not answers to enigmas
[James]
|
5391
|
Science aims to find uniformities to which (within the limits of experience) there are no exceptions
[Russell]
|
3856
|
Good theories have empirical content, explain a lot, and are not falsified
[Popper, by Newton-Smith]
|
17508
|
Science aims at truth, not at 'simplicity'
[Putnam]
|
12669
|
Science aims to explain things, not just describe them
[Ellis]
|
15225
|
Science investigates the nature and constitution of things or substances
[Harré/Madden]
|
15298
|
We prefer the theory which explains and predicts the powers and capacities of particulars
[Harré/Madden]
|
14917
|
To accept a scientific theory, we only need to believe that it is empirically adequate
[Fraassen]
|
19007
|
A theory need not be true to be good; it should just be true about its physical aspects
[Yablo]
|
7026
|
Science is sometimes said to classify powers, neglecting qualities
[Heil]
|
15207
|
We want illuminating theories, rather than coherent theories
[Le Poidevin]
|
14988
|
A theory which doesn't fit nature is unexplanatory, even if it is true
[Sider]
|
17488
|
Empiricist theories are sets of laws, which give explanations and reductions
[Glennan]
|
20736
|
Science has to abstract out the subjective attributes of things, focusing on what is objective
[Aho]
|