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Single Idea 14921

[from 'Every Thing Must Go' by J Ladyman / D Ross, in 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 8. Ramsey Sentences ]

Full Idea

If one replaces the assertions of a first-order theory with its Ramsey sentence (giving a quantified predicate variable for a theoretical term), the observational consequences are carried over, but direct reference to unobservables is eliminated.

Gist of Idea

The Ramsey-sentence approach preserves observations, but eliminates unobservables

Source

J Ladyman / D Ross (Every Thing Must Go [2007], 2.4.1)

Book Reference

Ladyman,J/Ross,D: 'Every Thing Must Go' [OUP 2007], p.125


A Reaction

Thus this rewriting of theories is popular with empiricists, and this draws attention to the way you can change the ontological commitments simply by paraphrase. ...However, see Idea 14922.

Related Idea

Idea 14922 The Ramsey sentence describes theoretical entities; it skips reference, but doesn't eliminate it [Ladyman/Ross]