Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Theoretical terms: expressions for unobservable objects which are indirectly inferred by a theory from the application of its methods and which are in accordance with the rules of application of the vocabulary of the theory. See also unobservables, observation, observation language, observation theorems, Carnap conditional, Ramsey theorem, existence. _____________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. | |||
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Christopher Peacocke on Theoretical Terms - Dictionary of Arguments
I 91f Observational terms/Theoretical Terms/TT/Peacocke: Square: has to be experienced as such - an X-ray tube not. >Observation terms, >Observation language. For scientists, the X-ray tube can be constructed entirely different, for lay persons not - different term. Sensitivity for the property: necessary but not sufficient condition. E.g. "tomato-like": appearance or taste, no theory is required. Square: a minimal theory of perspective is required. There is nothing "square-like" what would correspond to "tomato-like". >Properties, >Predicates, >Perception, >Seeing, >Knowledge, >Categorization, >Perspective, >Terms. Without square term no sensation of square, (not only no representation). A perspectively distorted square is perceived as a square, but not perceived as distorted. Higher order; >description levels. Not so with "tomato-like": something that is tomato-like cannot be known as a tomato. >Forgeries. "Tomato-like" is not a criterion, otherwise tomato is an observation term. - Representation: tomato, not "tomato-like" >Representation, >Criteria, >Knowledge. I 94ff Theoretical Terms/Peacocke: every perception has representational content - e.g. "The particle collision produced the track". >Representational content, >Conceptual content, >Content, >Perception, >Causality, cf. >Measurement. Problem: then the causality is in the representational content, then we have a priori knowledge. Solution: observational terms and perception must be characterized simultaneously - applying only for observed content (not for theoretical terms). - The experience must also be made if the object is not covered by these theoretical terms. I 100 Particle pair/observation terms/theoretical terms/Peacocke: here, not the same conditions apply for changing angle, etc. - one can imagine here that the track of the particle pair in the cloud chamber does not result from a particle collision. - Unlike e.g. square - but that does not mean that squareness would be a secondary quality in the sense of power to evoke a feeling. I 101 Theoretical Term: when a perceived object falls below a theoretical concept, then there must be a level of representational content on which the experience could be made, even if the object does not fall under this theoretical term - just thereby "track caused by a particle collision" turns into a theoretical term. >Description levels, >Levels/order, >Symmetry/Peacocke. I 154 'As'/seeing-as/perception/thinking/Peacocke: E.g. 'This acid burns the table': only liquid is seen, not 'as acid'._____________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. |
Peacocke I Chr. R. Peacocke Sense and Content Oxford 1983 Peacocke II Christopher Peacocke "Truth Definitions and Actual Languges" In Truth and Meaning, G. Evans/J. McDowell, Oxford 1976 |
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