Abstract Dewar (2019) argues that removing excess structure via “sophistication” can have explanatory benefits to removing excess structure via “reduction”. In this paper, I argue that a more robust reason to prefer sophisticated theories is that they have representational benefits.
{"title":"The Representational Role of Sophisticated Theories","authors":"Clara Bradley","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.131","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.131","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Dewar (2019) argues that removing excess structure via “sophistication” can have explanatory benefits to removing excess structure via “reduction”. In this paper, I argue that a more robust reason to prefer sophisticated theories is that they have representational benefits.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"178 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135549194","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Biomedical deployments of data science capitalise on vast, heterogeneous data sources. This promotes a diversified understanding of what counts as evidence for health-related interventions, beyond the strictures associated with evidence-based medicine. Focusing on COVID-19 transmission and prevention research, I consider the epistemic implications of this diversification of evidence in relation to: (1) experimental design, especially the revival of natural experiments as sources of reliable epidemiological knowledge; and (2) modelling practices, particularly the recognition of transdisciplinary expertise as crucial to developing and interpreting data models. Acknowledging such shifts in evidential, experimental and modelling practices helps avoid harmful applications of data-intensive methods.
{"title":"Is Data Science Transforming Biomedical Research? Evidence, Expertise and Experiments in COVID-19 Science","authors":"Sabina Leonelli","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.122","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.122","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Biomedical deployments of data science capitalise on vast, heterogeneous data sources. This promotes a diversified understanding of what counts as evidence for health-related interventions, beyond the strictures associated with evidence-based medicine. Focusing on COVID-19 transmission and prevention research, I consider the epistemic implications of this diversification of evidence in relation to: (1) experimental design, especially the revival of natural experiments as sources of reliable epidemiological knowledge; and (2) modelling practices, particularly the recognition of transdisciplinary expertise as crucial to developing and interpreting data models. Acknowledging such shifts in evidential, experimental and modelling practices helps avoid harmful applications of data-intensive methods.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135592002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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{"title":"PSA volume 90 issue 4 Cover and Back matter","authors":"","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.154","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.154","url":null,"abstract":"An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"66 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136055149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
{"title":"PSA volume 90 issue 4 Cover and Front matter","authors":"","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.153","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.153","url":null,"abstract":"An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"29 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136055148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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{"title":"Review of Massimi Michela & Casey D. McCoy (eds.) Understanding Perspectivism: Scientific Challenges and Methodological Prospects","authors":"Oscar Westerblad","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.110","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.110","url":null,"abstract":"An abstract is not available for this content so a preview has been provided. As you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"48 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135344128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract The demise of the value-free ideal constitutes a threat to public trust in science. One proposal is that whenever making value judgments, scientists rely only on democratic values. Since the influence of democratic values on scientific claims and recommendations is legitimate, public trust in science is warranted. I challenge this proposal. Appealing to democratic values will not suffice to secure trust because of at least two obstacles: polarization and marginalization.
{"title":"How to Not Secure Public Trust in Science: Representative Values v. Polarization and Marginalization","authors":"Soazig Le Bihan","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.119","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.119","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The demise of the value-free ideal constitutes a threat to public trust in science. One proposal is that whenever making value judgments, scientists rely only on democratic values. Since the influence of democratic values on scientific claims and recommendations is legitimate, public trust in science is warranted. I challenge this proposal. Appealing to democratic values will not suffice to secure trust because of at least two obstacles: polarization and marginalization.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"51 4 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136235176","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract I defend a novel account of scientific progress centred around justification. Science progresses, on this account, where there is a change in justification. I consider three options for explicating this notion of change in justification. This account of scientific progress dispels with a condition for scientific progress that requires accumulation of truth or truthlikeness, and it emphasises the social nature of scientific justification.
{"title":"Justifying Scientific Progress","authors":"Jacob Stegenga","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.118","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract I defend a novel account of scientific progress centred around justification. Science progresses, on this account, where there is a change in justification. I consider three options for explicating this notion of change in justification. This account of scientific progress dispels with a condition for scientific progress that requires accumulation of truth or truthlikeness, and it emphasises the social nature of scientific justification.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"205 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135395888","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract I propose the ‘Propositional Account’ of effective quantum field theories. According to the Propositional Account, each effective quantum field theory expresses propositions about various physical items: fields, interactions, and more. In addition, two effective quantum field theories are physically equivalent just in case they express the same propositions. As I explain, the Propositional Account is scientifically naturalistic, since it invokes terms and principles from the empirical science of linguistics. And the Propositional Account avoids problems faced by other accounts of the physical contents of effective theories.
{"title":"The Propositional Account of Effective Theories","authors":"Isaac Wilhelm","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.117","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract I propose the ‘Propositional Account’ of effective quantum field theories. According to the Propositional Account, each effective quantum field theory expresses propositions about various physical items: fields, interactions, and more. In addition, two effective quantum field theories are physically equivalent just in case they express the same propositions. As I explain, the Propositional Account is scientifically naturalistic, since it invokes terms and principles from the empirical science of linguistics. And the Propositional Account avoids problems faced by other accounts of the physical contents of effective theories.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"2013 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135435283","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract It is increasingly easy to acquire a large amount of data about a problem before formulating a hypothesis. The idea of exploratory data analysis (EDA) predates this situation, but many researchers find themselves appealing to EDA as an explanation of what they are doing with these new resources. Yet there has been relatively little explicit work on what EDA is or why it might be important. I canvass several positions in the literature, find them wanting, and suggest an alternative: exploratory data analysis, when done well, shows the expected value of experimentation for a particular hypothesis.
{"title":"Exploratory analysis and the expected value of Experimentation","authors":"Colin Klein","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.116","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.116","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract It is increasingly easy to acquire a large amount of data about a problem before formulating a hypothesis. The idea of exploratory data analysis (EDA) predates this situation, but many researchers find themselves appealing to EDA as an explanation of what they are doing with these new resources. Yet there has been relatively little explicit work on what EDA is or why it might be important. I canvass several positions in the literature, find them wanting, and suggest an alternative: exploratory data analysis, when done well, shows the expected value of experimentation for a particular hypothesis.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"53 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135436468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract Traditionally, the debate about health and disease is characterized as an opposition between naturalism and normativism. However, recent contributions show that theories of health and disease need not be purely naturalistic or normative, but may be located somewhere in between. The first purpose of this article is to further advance this line of nuancing. The second purpose is to argue in favor of a specific position, which the added nuances reveal. I call this position ‘subjectively salient naturalism’. If one is interested in scientific concepts of health and disease, subjectively salient naturalism is a more plausible position than naturalism.
{"title":"Health and Disease: Between Naturalism and Normativism","authors":"Amanda Thorell","doi":"10.1017/psa.2023.113","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.113","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Traditionally, the debate about health and disease is characterized as an opposition between naturalism and normativism. However, recent contributions show that theories of health and disease need not be purely naturalistic or normative, but may be located somewhere in between. The first purpose of this article is to further advance this line of nuancing. The second purpose is to argue in favor of a specific position, which the added nuances reveal. I call this position ‘subjectively salient naturalism’. If one is interested in scientific concepts of health and disease, subjectively salient naturalism is a more plausible position than naturalism.","PeriodicalId":54620,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy of Science","volume":"50 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"136299915","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}