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Philosophy Dictionary of ArgumentsHome | |||
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Facts, philosophy: facts are that which corresponds to a true statement or - according to some authors - is identical with a true statement. Problems result from possible multiple counting of objects, e.g. when it is spoken of a situation and additionally by the fact that this situation exists. Therefore, some authors consider the assumption of facts as something superfluous. See also truths of reason, factual truths, facts, truth, statements, knowledge, certainty, thought objects._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
Author | Concept | Summary/Quotes | Sources |
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Henri Poincaré on Facts - Dictionary of Arguments
Duhem I 196 Definition Raw Fact/Poincaré: "The scientific fact is only the raw fact, translated into a comfortable language. Everything that the scholar creates of a fact is the language in which he expresses it." >Expressions, >Language use, >Theoretical language, >Theoretical terms, >Theoretical entities, >Mathematical entities. E.g. I observe a galvanometer and ask a layman: does the current flow? He'll try to determine something on the wire. The assistant will understand the question like this: does the light strip move? >Experiments, >Experiments/Duhem, >Measurements. The difference between a raw and a scientific fact is the same as that between two expressions in two different languages. It is not correct that the words "the current flows" are based on a convention, to translate the fact that the magnet strip is distracted! >Conventions. E.g., it may well be that the assistant says: the current is flowing, but the magnet does not move, the galvanometer seems to have a defect. I 197 He can observe the occurrence of gas bubbles or something else on a voltmeter that is also connected to the circuit. "The current flows" does not mean a certain concrete fact in a technical or conventional language, but a symbolic formula. For the theorist, an infinite number of different kinds can be translated into concrete facts, since all these incoherent facts permit the same theoretical interpretation. >Interpretation, >Translation, >Translation indeterminacy._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Duh I P. Duhem La théorie physique, son objet et sa structure, Paris 1906 German Edition: Ziel und Struktur der physikalischen Theorien Hamburg 1998 |