Theory-laden observations

Alternative models
Instrumentalism
Relevance


Prepared by:
Ms. Therese Angeli M. Magallanes


Relativism, Instrumetalism and
Relevance
Relativism
A theory, especially in ethics, that
conceptions of truth and moral
values are not absolute but are
relative to the persons or groups
holding them.
The idea that some elements or
aspects of experience or culture are
relative to, i.e., dependent on, other
elements or aspects.

Relativism
Common statements that might
be considered relativistic include
"That's true for you but not for me"
"Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder"
"You can't judge other cultures by
Overheard on Campus
Right and wrong are a matter of
opinion
Whats right is what each person
(or society) says is right
Who are we to judge?
There are no moral absolutes
I do my thing, you do yours. . .
When in Rome, do as the Romans
do!

In making scientific observations,
scientific inquiry.
Theory-laden observations
Alternative models
Instrumentalism
Relevance
Theory-laden Observations
What scientists see is influenced by
their beliefs.
Observations and evidence are not free
from the influence of theories.
We examine things with some purpose
and therefore some idea in mind.

Observable Unobservable
?
Alternative Models
A process of scientific enquiry should be
constantly looking to see if there are
alternative theories to account for the
evidence to hand --- the existing theory
is then rejected if another emerges that
is more comprehensive.
Alternative Models
In practice, a research programme
should yield both new facts, and also
new theories; in other words, it should
produce what amounts to a programme
of continuous growth.
Alternative Models
The direction of science is determined
primarily by human creative imagination
and not by the universe of facts which
surrounds us -Lakatos, 1978
Example
Newtonian
Physics
Einstein

Instrumentalism
Fruitfulness --- the degree to which each
theory is able to make accurate
predictions, in other words, its
usefulness as an instrument for the
application of science.
The main test of science is its ability to
solve puzzles.
Theories are viewed as tools for
predicting.
Instrumentalism
We have to go for the most useful way
of understanding the world that we have
to hand, even if the theories we use
already have recognizable limitations.
We cannot wait for perfection.
Relevance
A theory might be judged as to its
relevance within that world-view and the
presuppositions of the scientific
community as a whole.
Relevance
Even if we are to consider the status of
scientific theories primarily from the
perspective of their usefulness and
relevance within the community that
produces them, it is still important that
they should be examined in the light of
the overall philosophical questions about
the nature of existence, even if no
definitive answers can be given.