東華大學圖書館 |

Language: English

Help

回圖書館首頁

手機版館藏查詢

Back

Switch To: Labeled | MARC Mode | ISBD

Success and reliability: Methodologi...

Richardson, Orla Catherine.

Linked to FindBook

Google Book

Amazon

博客來

Success and reliability: Methodological issues in scientific inquiry.

Record Type:	Language materials, printed : Monograph/item
Title/Author:	Success and reliability: Methodological issues in scientific inquiry./
Author:	Richardson, Orla Catherine.
Description:	257 p.
Notes:	Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-03, Section: A, page: 0968.
Contained By:	Dissertation Abstracts International71-03A.
Subject:	Philosophy of Science. -
Online resource:	http://pqdd.sinica.edu.tw/twdaoapp/servlet/advanced?query=3399544
ISBN:	9781109653403

Success and reliability: Methodological issues in scientific inquiry.
Richardson, Orla Catherine.

Success and reliability: Methodological issues in scientific inquiry. - 257 p.

Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-03, Section: A, page: 0968.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University, 2010.

The widespread use of models and simulation modeling in scientific practice reveals a scientific methodology in conflict with many of our basic epistemological intuitions. Scientific modeling strategies deliberately employ falsehoods: idealizations, abstractions, approximations, and other fictional elements. Nonetheless, models are successfully used by scientific inquirers, trusted to perform diverse inquiry-based tasks, and thought to provide genuine explanatory power. Contemporary philosophy of science faces a major challenge: how to rethink the methodological norms that guarantee scientific success in light of the persistent use of fictive strategies in scientific inquiry. This dissertation answers the challenge by arguing that reliability should replace traditional epistemological standards, such as truth or empirical adequacy, as the norm in model-based inquiry.

ISBN: 9781109653403Subjects--Topical Terms:

894954
Philosophy of Science.

Success and reliability: Methodological issues in scientific inquiry.
LDR:03435nam 2200301 4500 001 1394529
005 20110429092846.5
008 130515s2010 ||||||||||||||||| ||eng d
020 $a 9781109653403
035 $a (UMI)AAI3399544
035 $a AAI3399544
040 $a UMI $c UMI
100 1 $a Richardson, Orla Catherine. $3 1673155
245 1 0 $a Success and reliability: Methodological issues in scientific inquiry.
300 $a 257 p.
500 $a Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 71-03, Section: A, page: 0968.
500 $a Adviser: Alisa Bokulich.
502 $a Thesis (Ph.D.)--Boston University, 2010.
520 $a The widespread use of models and simulation modeling in scientific practice reveals a scientific methodology in conflict with many of our basic epistemological intuitions. Scientific modeling strategies deliberately employ falsehoods: idealizations, abstractions, approximations, and other fictional elements. Nonetheless, models are successfully used by scientific inquirers, trusted to perform diverse inquiry-based tasks, and thought to provide genuine explanatory power. Contemporary philosophy of science faces a major challenge: how to rethink the methodological norms that guarantee scientific success in light of the persistent use of fictive strategies in scientific inquiry. This dissertation answers the challenge by arguing that reliability should replace traditional epistemological standards, such as truth or empirical adequacy, as the norm in model-based inquiry.
520 $a To illustrate the methodological power of scientific models and the fictional strategies used in modeling techniques, this dissertation examines two case studies from nanoscience. The case studies demonstrate that nanoscale inquirers use models not because they are 'true' or even empirically adequate, but because they are functionally fit. This dissertation shows how the concept of reliability gives functional fitness the necessary epistemic dimension to secure sound methodological practice.
520 $a The philosophical importance of the commonsense notion of reliability was first acknowledged by John Dewey. In this dissertation, Dewey's notion of reliability is transformed into a fully articulated epistemic norm. In my account, reliability is a property assigned to a variety of scientific items (such as theories, instruments, strategies, models) in virtue of their performance in problem-solving activities. Recognizing how the principle of reliability operates in practice both illuminates the structure of model-based inquiry and justifies the use of fictions in scientific practice.
520 $a Finally, this dissertation argues that nanoscale inquiry illustrates the increasing explanatory relevance of scientific models. The challenge for the philosophy of science is to demonstrate how model-based explanation is possible. This dissertation responds to the challenge by showing how my proposed conception of scientific methodology leads to a novel account of scientific explanation. On my account, explanation is best characterized as an activity---not a form of reasoning---and successful explanatory strategies are governed by the principle of reliability.
590 $a School code: 0017.
650 4 $a Philosophy of Science. $3 894954
690 $a 0402
710 2 $a Boston University. $3 1017454
773 0 $t Dissertation Abstracts International $g 71-03A.
790 1 0 $a Bokulich, Alisa, $e advisor
790 $a 0017
791 $a Ph.D.
792 $a 2010
856 4 0 $u http://pqdd.sinica.edu.tw/twdaoapp/servlet/advanced?query=3399544