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Psychology Dictionary of Arguments

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Theories: theories are statement systems for the explanation of observations, e.g. of behavior or physical, chemical or biological processes. When setting up theories, a subject domain, a vocabulary of the terms to be used and admissible methods of observation are defined. In addition to explanations, the goal of the theory formation is the predictability and comparability of observations. See also systems, models, experiments, observation, observation language, theoretical terms, theoretical entities, predictions, analogies, comparisons, evidence, verification, reduction, definitions, definability.
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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

Ian Hacking on Theories - Dictionary of Arguments

I 292
Theory/Hacking: I have no idea what a theory of "non-distortion through exposure to air" would be like.
Observation without theory: e.g. Herrschel’s discovery of heat radiation 1800.
>Discoveries
, >Observation, >Seeing, >Method, >Science.
I 291 ff
His first assumption was that which we believe today. His theory was then entirely aligned to Newton, but that did not affect his observation.
Problem: his observation was burdened by absolutely inadequate accuracy claims (precision, accuracy). He measured down to the thousandth, something which he was not able to do!
The absence of a theory made him notice something: invisible infrared had to be included in the white light. (Hanson would have claimed that we would only be able to notice such a thing if we previously had a theory).
>Theory ladenness.
I 348
Unit/theory/Hacking: magnetism can affect light. Thus, it was possible to unify both (from interaction).
>Unification, >Reduction.

1. Hanson, R. N. (1958). Patterns of discovery. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press

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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.

Hacking I
I. Hacking
Representing and Intervening. Introductory Topics in the Philosophy of Natural Science, Cambridge/New York/Oakleigh 1983
German Edition:
Einführung in die Philosophie der Naturwissenschaften Stuttgart 1996


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