An Architectonic for Science: The Structuralist Program

469 Pages·1987·8.446 MB·English

by  Balzer, Wolfgang, Moulines, C. Ulises: Sneed, Joseph D.

AN ARCHITECTONIC FOR SCIENCE
SYNTHESE LIBRARY
STUDIES IN EPISTEMOLOGY,
LOGIC, METHODOLOGY, AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Managing Editor:
jaak k o h in tik k a , Florida State University, Tallahassee
Editors:
DONALD DAVIDSON, University of California, Berkeley
GABRIEL NUCHELMANS, University of Leyden
WESLEY C. SALMON, University of Pittsburgh
VOLUME 186
WOLFGANG BALZER, C. ULISES MOULINES
AND JOSEPH D. SNEED
AN ARCHITECTONIC
FOR SCIENCE
The Structuralist Program
D. REIDEL PUBLISHING COMPANY
A MEMBER OF THE KLUWER ACADEMIC PUBLISHERS GROUP
DORDRECHT / BOSTON / LANCASTER / TOKYO
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Balzer, Wolfgang, 1947-
An architectonic for science.
(Synthese library; v. 186)
Bibliography: p.
Including indexes.
1. Science—Philosophy. 2. Science—Methodology. 3. Empi­
ricism. 4. Structuralism. I. Moulines, Carlos Ulises. II. Sneed,
Joseph D. III. Title.
Q175.B19 1987 501 87-9859
ISBN-13: 978-94-010-8176-4 e-ISBN-13: 978-94-009-3765-9
DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-3765-9
Published by D. Reidel Publishing Company
P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, Holland
Sold and distributed in the U.S.A. and Canada
by Kluwer Academic Publishers,
101 Philip Drive, Norwell, MA 02061, U.S.A.
In all other countries, sold and distributed
by Kluwer Academic Publishers Group,
P.O. Box 322, 3300 AH Dordrecht, Holland
All Rights Reserved
© 1987 by D. Reidel Publishing Company
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1987
No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner
To
Phillio, Adriana and Aline
Ich verstehe unter einer Architektonik die Kunst der Systeme. Weil die
systematische Einheit dasjenige ist, was gemeine Erkenntnis allererst
zur Wissenschaft, d. i. aus einem blossen Aggregat derselben ein System
macht, so ist Architektonik die Lehre des Scientifischen in unserer
Erkenntnis überhaupt, und sie gehört also notwendig zur Methoden­
lehre.
I. Kant, Kritik der reinen Vernunft, B860, A832
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE xi
OVERVIEW XV
NOTATIONAL CONVENTIONS xxxiii
LIST OF SYMBOLS xxxiv
LIST OF FORMAL DEFINITIONS OF EXAMPLES xxxvi
I: MODELS AND STRUCTURES 1
1.0 Introduction 1
i.i Models and Potential Models 2
1.2 Types and Structure Species 6
1.3 Set-Theoretic Predicates and Lawlikeness 14
1.4 Plausible Interpretations 20
1.5 Example: Decision Theory 23
1.6 Example: Collision Mechanics 26
1.7 Example: Classical Particle Mechanics 29
Bibliography 34
II: THEORY-ELEMENTS 36
11.0 Introduction 36
ii. l Cores and Intended Applications 37
n.2 Constraints 40
II.2.1 Extensivity of Energy in Equilibrium
Thermodynamics 41
II.2.2 Equality Constraint in Classical Mechanics 44
II.2.3 The General Notion of a Constraint 46
II. 3 Theoreticity, Partial Potential Models, and Links 47
II.3.1 An Intuitive Idea of Theoretical Concepts 47
II.3.2 Intertheoretical Links Determining Non-
Theoretical Terms 57
vii
viii TABLE OF CONTENTS
II.3.3 An Informal Criterion ofTheoreticity 62
II.3.3.1 Spring Balance Determination of Weight
in CPM 68
II.3.3.2 Collision Determination of Mass in CCM 72
II.3.4 A Formal Criterion ofTheoreticity 73
II.4 Theory-Cores Expanded 78
II.5 Application Operators 79
II.6 Intended Applications 86
II.7 Idealized Theory-Elements and Empirical Claims 89
Bibliography 93
III: SOME BASIC THEORY-ELEMENTS 95
iii.o Introduction 95
iii.i Classical Collision Mechanics 96
III.I. 1 Potential and Actual Models of CCM 96
III. 1.2 Partial Potential Models of CCM 97
III. 1.3 Constraints for CCM 98
III. 1.4 The Theory-Element of CCM 99
m .2 Relativistic Collision Mechanics 99
III.2.1 Potential and Actual Models of RCM 99
III.2.2 Partial Potential Models of RCM 100
III.2.3 Constraints for RCM 101
III.2.4 The Theory-Element of RCM 102
m.3 Classical Particle Mechanics 103
III.3.1 The Potential and Actual Models of CPM 103
III. 3.1.1 The Logical Status of Force in CPM 103
III.3.2 The Partial Potential Models of CPM 105
III.3.3 Constraints for CPM 105
III.3.4 The Theory-Element of CPM 106
III.4 Daltonian Stoichiometry 108
III.4.1 The Potential Models of DSTOI 108
III.4.2 The Models of DSTOI 114
III.4.3 The Partial Potential Models of DSTOI 117
III.4.4 Constraints for DSTOI 120
III.4.5 Links for DSTOI 121
III.4.6 The Theory-Element of DSTOI and Its Claim 122
III.5 Simple Equilibrium Thermodynamics 127
III.5.1 The Potential Models of SETH 127
III.5.2 The Actual Models of SETH 132
TABLE OF CONTENTS IX
III.5.3 The Partial Potential Models of SETH 137
III.5.4 Constraints for SETH 139
III.5.5 Links for SETH 147
III.6 Lagrangian Mechanics 149
III.6.1 The Potential and Actual Models of LAG 149
III.6.2 The Partial Potential Models of LAG 152
III.6.3 Constraints and Links for LAG 152
III.6.4 The Theory-Element of LAG 154
III.7 Pure Exchange Economics 155
III.7.1 The Potential and Actual Models of PEE 155
III.7.2 The Partial Potential Models of PEE 159
III.7.3 The Theory-Element of PEE 161
Bibliography 165
IV: THEORY-NETS 167
IV.O Introduction 167
IV. 1 Specializations 168
IV.2 Theory-Nets 172
IV. 3 Theory-Net Content and Empirical Claim 177
IV.4 The Theory-Net of Classical Particle Mechanics 180
IV.5 The Theory-Net of Simple Equilibrium
Thermodynamics 191
Bibliography 203
V. THE DIACHRONIC STRUCTURE OF THEORIES 205
V.O Introduction 205
V. 1 Pragmatic Primitive Concepts
210
V. 1.1 Historical Periods 211
V. 1.2 Historical Precedence 212
V.1.3 Scientists 213
V. 1.4 Scientific Communities and Scientific Generations 213
V. 1.5 Scientific Propositional Attitudes 215
V.2 Theory-Evolutions 216
V.3 The Evolution of CPM 223
V.4 The Evolution of SETH 234
Bibliography 244
VI: INTERTHEORETICAL RELATIONS 247
VI.O Introduction 247
VI. 1 Global Intertheoretical Relations 248
X TABLE OF CONTENTS
VL2 Specialization and Theoretization 250
VI.3 Types of Reduction 252
VI.3.1 The Reduction of Collision Mechanics to
Classical Particle Mechanics 255
VI.3.2 The Reduction of Rigid Body Mechanics to
Classical Particle Mechanics 267
VI.4 A General Concept of Reduction 275
VI.5 Empirical Equivalence 284
VI.5.1 The Empirical Equivalence of Lagrangian and
Classical Mechanics 292
VI.6 Equivalence 295
VL7 Reduction, Language, and Incommensurability 306
Bibliography 320
VII: APPROXIMATION 323
VII.O Introduction 323
VII. 1 Types of Approximation 325
VII.2 Intratheoretical Approximation 328
VII.2.1 Blurs on Two Levels 334
VII.2.2 Admissible Approximations 342
VII.2.3 The Approximative Version of an Empirical
Claim 352
VII.2.4 Approximations in Theory-Nets and Theory-
Evolutions 357
VII.3 Intertheoretical Approximation 364
VII.3.1 Approximative Reduction 371
VII.3.1.1 The Case of the Kepler-Newton
Relationship 374
Bibliography 383
VIII: THE GLOBAL STRUCTURE OF SCIENCE 386
VIII.O Introduction 386
VIII. 1 Theory-Holons 387
VIII.2 Theoreticity Reconsidered 391
Vni.3 Graphs and Paths 393
VIII.4 Local Empirical Claims in Global Theory-Holons 394
VIII.5 Intended Applications Reconsidered 404
VIII.6 Foundationalism Versus Coherentism 411
Bibliography 423
NAME INDEX 425
SUBJECT INDEX 428