The Completeness of Scientific Theories On the Derivation of Empiric
Earlier in this century, many philosophers of science (for example, Rudolf Carnap) drew a fairly sharp distinction between theory and observation, between theoretical terms like 'mass' and 'electron', and observation terms like 'measures three meters in l
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THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO SERIES IN PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE A SERIES OF BOOKS IN PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE, METHODOLOGY, EPISTEMOLOGY, LOGIC, HISTORY OF SCIENCE, AND RELATED FIELDS
Managing Editor ROBERT E. BUTTS
Dept. of Philosophy, University of Western Ontario, Canada
Editorial Board JEFFREY BUB,
University of Maryland
L. JONATHAN COHEN,
WILLIAM DEMOPOULOS,
Queen's College, Oxford
University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
WILLIAM HARPER,
JAAKKO HlNTIKKA,
Boston University
CLIFFORD A. HOOKER,
University of Newcastle
HENRY E. KYBURG, JR.,
University of Rochester
AUSONIO MARRAS,
University of Western Ontario
JURGEN MITTELSTRASS,
Universitiit Konstanz
JOHN M. NICHOLAS,
University of Western Ontario
GLENN A. PEARCE,
University of Western Ontario
BAS C. VAN FRAAS SEN,
Princeton University
VOLUME 53
MARTIN CARRIER Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Konstanz, Gennany
THE COMPLETENESS OF SCIENTIFIC THEORIES On the Derivation of Empirical Indicators within a Theoretical Framework: The Case of Physical Geometry
SPRINGER SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.V.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Carrier, Martln. The completeness of sClentlflc theorles on the derlvatl0n of emplrlcal lndicators wlthln a theoretlcal framework the case of physical geometry I by Martln Carrler. p. cm. -- (The Unlverslty of Western Ontarlo serles ln the p h 1 los 0 Ph Y 0 f sc 1e n ce; v. 53) Includes blbl10graphlcal references and lndex. ISBN 978-94-010-4393-9 ISBN 978-94-011-0910-9 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-011-0910-9 1. SClence--Phl1osophy. 2. SClence--Methodology. 3. Physlcal
measurements. 4. Geometry. Q175.C335 1993 530.1 '6--dc20
1. Title.
II. Series.
93-30527
ISBN 978-94-010-4393-9
printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved © 1994 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 1994 Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1994 No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written perrnission from the copyright owner.
To Gabi With Love
EDITOR'S PREFACE Earlier in this century, many philosophers of science (for example, Rudolf Carnap) drew a fairly sharp distinction between theory and observation, between theoretical terms like 'mass' and 'electron', and observation terms like 'measures three meters in length' and 'is _2° Celsius'. By simply looking at our instruments we can ascertain what numbers our measurements yield. Creatures like mass are different: we determine mass by calculation; we never directly observe a mass. Nor an electron: this term is introduced in order to explain what we observe. This (once standard) distinction between theory and observation was eventually found to be wanting. First, if the distinction holds, it is difficult to see what can characterize the relationship between theory :md obser
