Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 1991
IN SPITE OF appearances to the contrary, I will not present an exercise in applied theology but r... more IN SPITE OF appearances to the contrary, I will not present an exercise in applied theology but rather in applied philosophy of science. That is, I will draw some systematic conclusions from some historical case studies. More specifically, my aim is to show that the so-called "Miracle Argument" that is frequently advanced in favor of scientific realism doesn't hold water. Before I can address the problematic aspects of that argument, I must first straighten out the argument itself as well as the position it is intended to support.
Journal for General Philosophy of Science - Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie, 1986
The paper exposes the principal procedures of assessing methodological theories. The first one is... more The paper exposes the principal procedures of assessing methodological theories. The first one is based on a consensus about the aims of science, the second uses epistemological criteria, and the third checks the adequacy of methodological requirements against the history of science. This third procedure (Lakatos' rational reconstruction) is singled out for a more detailed treatment. It is argued that rational reconstruction constitutes a separate level of historiography (distinct from the interpretation of a scientist's thinking and the study of reception of ideas) and concerns historical explanation. The subject of a rational reconstruction is the methodological explanation of all basic value judgments, whereas all additional factors (such as an individual scientist's choice between competing theories or his motives for this choice) are not determined by methodological rules. It is further specified in which way rationally reconstructed history should correspond to the actual course of historical events, i. e. to which extent rational reconstruction is free to interpret history according to methodological categories. In the last paragraph the connection between scientific progress and the growth of knowledge is discussed.
We seek to elucidate the explanatory and exploratory roles of models in physical chemistry. Model... more We seek to elucidate the explanatory and exploratory roles of models in physical chemistry. Models are mostly understood as cognitive instruments supposed to account for a restricted range of data. We elaborate general dimensions of model-building in this first section and distinguish between model-building by enriching and reducing a nomological core. We focus on intermediate and idealized models. Intermediate models incorporate basic principles of physics, but their more detailed results are shaped by additional suppositions. Idealization involves the reduction of the nomological core of models. Models can also be used for exploratory purposes. Cognitive models are heuristically useful because they serve to evaluate quantities inaccessible otherwise. In a similar vein, we examine the exploratory use of concrete realizations or analog models in studying problems from surface science. Our general claim is that considering the two dimensions of model-building, that is, enriching and ...
Carrier M. Marcel Weber, Die Architektur der Synthese. Entstehung und Philosophie der modernen Ev... more Carrier M. Marcel Weber, Die Architektur der Synthese. Entstehung und Philosophie der modernen Evolutionstheorie, Berlin: de Gruyter, 1998. Philosophiegeschichte und logische Analyse. 2002;5: Varia mit einem Schwerpunkt zur Philosophie des Mittelalters:227-231
Responsible research and innovation (RRI) features the dialog of science "with society," and rese... more Responsible research and innovation (RRI) features the dialog of science "with society," and research performed "for society," i.e., for the benefit of the people. I focus on this latter, outcome-oriented notion of RRI and discuss two kinds of problems. The first one concerns options to anticipate the future course of science and technology. Such foresight knowledge seems necessary for subjecting research to demands of social and moral responsibility. However, predicting science and technology is widely considered impossible. The second problem concerns moral evaluation. The benefit or harm produced by certain research and innovation achievements is often hard to estimate. Against this background of uncertainty in factual and moral assessment, I explore opportunities left for RRI. First, RRI should contribute to maintaining a wide range of approaches. Second, judgments about RRI should draw on zones of convergence among the variety of research approaches pursued. Third, decisions about implementing a technology should be revisable. Fourth, the more specific inclusion of demands from society should be reserved to technology development. Fifth, in many respects, the social compatibility of a new technology is due rather to the social context than the inherent features of the product. Favorable circumstances are transparency, representation of all relevant parties, and procedural fairness. As a result, some of the benefits and detriments of research and innovation can be identified without detailed knowledge of future findings.
Carrier M. W. Kutschmann, Der Naturwissenschaftler und sein Körper. Die Rolle der 'inneren... more Carrier M. W. Kutschmann, Der Naturwissenschaftler und sein Körper. Die Rolle der 'inneren' Natur in der experimentellen Naturwissenschaft der frühen Neuzeit. Spektrum der Wissenschaft. 1987;1987(10):130
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
The social organization of science as a topic of philosophy of science mostly concerns the questi... more The social organization of science as a topic of philosophy of science mostly concerns the question of which kinds of social organization are most beneficial to the epistemic aspirations of science. Section 1 addresses the interaction among scientists for improving epistemic qualities of knowledge claims in contrast to the mere accumulation of contributions from several scientists. Section 2 deals with the principles that are supposed to organize this interaction among scientists such that well-tested and well-confirmed knowledge is produced. Section 3 outlines what is supposed to glue scientific communities together and how society at large is assumed to affect the social organization of these communities. Section 4 attends to social epistemology (i.e., to attempts to explore the influence of social roles and characteristics on the system of scientific knowledge and confirmation practices).
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 1991
IN SPITE OF appearances to the contrary, I will not present an exercise in applied theology but r... more IN SPITE OF appearances to the contrary, I will not present an exercise in applied theology but rather in applied philosophy of science. That is, I will draw some systematic conclusions from some historical case studies. More specifically, my aim is to show that the so-called "Miracle Argument" that is frequently advanced in favor of scientific realism doesn't hold water. Before I can address the problematic aspects of that argument, I must first straighten out the argument itself as well as the position it is intended to support.
Journal for General Philosophy of Science - Zeitschrift für Allgemeine Wissenschaftstheorie, 1986
The paper exposes the principal procedures of assessing methodological theories. The first one is... more The paper exposes the principal procedures of assessing methodological theories. The first one is based on a consensus about the aims of science, the second uses epistemological criteria, and the third checks the adequacy of methodological requirements against the history of science. This third procedure (Lakatos' rational reconstruction) is singled out for a more detailed treatment. It is argued that rational reconstruction constitutes a separate level of historiography (distinct from the interpretation of a scientist's thinking and the study of reception of ideas) and concerns historical explanation. The subject of a rational reconstruction is the methodological explanation of all basic value judgments, whereas all additional factors (such as an individual scientist's choice between competing theories or his motives for this choice) are not determined by methodological rules. It is further specified in which way rationally reconstructed history should correspond to the actual course of historical events, i. e. to which extent rational reconstruction is free to interpret history according to methodological categories. In the last paragraph the connection between scientific progress and the growth of knowledge is discussed.
We seek to elucidate the explanatory and exploratory roles of models in physical chemistry. Model... more We seek to elucidate the explanatory and exploratory roles of models in physical chemistry. Models are mostly understood as cognitive instruments supposed to account for a restricted range of data. We elaborate general dimensions of model-building in this first section and distinguish between model-building by enriching and reducing a nomological core. We focus on intermediate and idealized models. Intermediate models incorporate basic principles of physics, but their more detailed results are shaped by additional suppositions. Idealization involves the reduction of the nomological core of models. Models can also be used for exploratory purposes. Cognitive models are heuristically useful because they serve to evaluate quantities inaccessible otherwise. In a similar vein, we examine the exploratory use of concrete realizations or analog models in studying problems from surface science. Our general claim is that considering the two dimensions of model-building, that is, enriching and ...
Carrier M. Marcel Weber, Die Architektur der Synthese. Entstehung und Philosophie der modernen Ev... more Carrier M. Marcel Weber, Die Architektur der Synthese. Entstehung und Philosophie der modernen Evolutionstheorie, Berlin: de Gruyter, 1998. Philosophiegeschichte und logische Analyse. 2002;5: Varia mit einem Schwerpunkt zur Philosophie des Mittelalters:227-231
Responsible research and innovation (RRI) features the dialog of science "with society," and rese... more Responsible research and innovation (RRI) features the dialog of science "with society," and research performed "for society," i.e., for the benefit of the people. I focus on this latter, outcome-oriented notion of RRI and discuss two kinds of problems. The first one concerns options to anticipate the future course of science and technology. Such foresight knowledge seems necessary for subjecting research to demands of social and moral responsibility. However, predicting science and technology is widely considered impossible. The second problem concerns moral evaluation. The benefit or harm produced by certain research and innovation achievements is often hard to estimate. Against this background of uncertainty in factual and moral assessment, I explore opportunities left for RRI. First, RRI should contribute to maintaining a wide range of approaches. Second, judgments about RRI should draw on zones of convergence among the variety of research approaches pursued. Third, decisions about implementing a technology should be revisable. Fourth, the more specific inclusion of demands from society should be reserved to technology development. Fifth, in many respects, the social compatibility of a new technology is due rather to the social context than the inherent features of the product. Favorable circumstances are transparency, representation of all relevant parties, and procedural fairness. As a result, some of the benefits and detriments of research and innovation can be identified without detailed knowledge of future findings.
Carrier M. W. Kutschmann, Der Naturwissenschaftler und sein Körper. Die Rolle der 'inneren... more Carrier M. W. Kutschmann, Der Naturwissenschaftler und sein Körper. Die Rolle der 'inneren' Natur in der experimentellen Naturwissenschaft der frühen Neuzeit. Spektrum der Wissenschaft. 1987;1987(10):130
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this p... more The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
The social organization of science as a topic of philosophy of science mostly concerns the questi... more The social organization of science as a topic of philosophy of science mostly concerns the question of which kinds of social organization are most beneficial to the epistemic aspirations of science. Section 1 addresses the interaction among scientists for improving epistemic qualities of knowledge claims in contrast to the mere accumulation of contributions from several scientists. Section 2 deals with the principles that are supposed to organize this interaction among scientists such that well-tested and well-confirmed knowledge is produced. Section 3 outlines what is supposed to glue scientific communities together and how society at large is assumed to affect the social organization of these communities. Section 4 attends to social epistemology (i.e., to attempts to explore the influence of social roles and characteristics on the system of scientific knowledge and confirmation practices).
Uploads
Papers by Martin Carrier