Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics)
Measurement is said to be the basis of exact sciences as the process of assigning numbers to matter (things or their attributes), thus making it possible to apply the mathematically formulated laws of nature to the empirical world. Mathematics and empiria are best accorded to each other in laborator...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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University of Tartu
2012-12-01
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| Series: | Studia Philosophica Estonica |
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| Online Access: | http://www.spe.ut.ee/ojs-2.2.2/index.php/spe/article/view/108/77 |
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| author | Ave Mets |
| author_facet | Ave Mets |
| author_sort | Ave Mets |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Measurement is said to be the basis of exact sciences as the process of assigning numbers to matter (things or their attributes), thus making it possible to apply the mathematically formulated laws of nature to the empirical world. Mathematics and empiria are best accorded to each other in laboratory experiments which function as what Nancy Cartwright calls nomological machine: an arrangement generating (mathematical) regularities. On the basis of accounts of measurement errors and uncertainties, I will argue for two claims: 1) Both fundamental laws of physics, corresponding to ideal nomological machine, and phenomenological laws, corresponding to material nomological machine, lie, being highly idealised relative to the empirical reality; and also laboratory measurement data do not describe properties inherent to the world independently of human understanding of it. 2) Therefore the naive, representational view of measurement and experimentation should be replaced with a more pragmatic or practice-based view. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:11:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c77fce84036d462bae6cb967004179c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1406-0000 1736-5899 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T07:11:53Z |
| publishDate | 2012-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Tartu |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Studia Philosophica Estonica |
| spelling | doaj.art-c77fce84036d462bae6cb967004179c72022-12-21T23:55:39ZdeuUniversity of TartuStudia Philosophica Estonica1406-00001736-58992012-12-015.2167186Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics)Ave MetsMeasurement is said to be the basis of exact sciences as the process of assigning numbers to matter (things or their attributes), thus making it possible to apply the mathematically formulated laws of nature to the empirical world. Mathematics and empiria are best accorded to each other in laboratory experiments which function as what Nancy Cartwright calls nomological machine: an arrangement generating (mathematical) regularities. On the basis of accounts of measurement errors and uncertainties, I will argue for two claims: 1) Both fundamental laws of physics, corresponding to ideal nomological machine, and phenomenological laws, corresponding to material nomological machine, lie, being highly idealised relative to the empirical reality; and also laboratory measurement data do not describe properties inherent to the world independently of human understanding of it. 2) Therefore the naive, representational view of measurement and experimentation should be replaced with a more pragmatic or practice-based view.http://www.spe.ut.ee/ojs-2.2.2/index.php/spe/article/view/108/77laboratory experimentmeasurement theorymeasurement uncertaintiesclassical physicsnomological machine |
| spellingShingle | Ave Mets Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics) Studia Philosophica Estonica laboratory experiment measurement theory measurement uncertainties classical physics nomological machine |
| title | Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics) |
| title_full | Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics) |
| title_fullStr | Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics) |
| title_short | Measurement Theory, Nomological Machine And Measurement Uncertainties (In Classical Physics) |
| title_sort | measurement theory nomological machine and measurement uncertainties in classical physics |
| topic | laboratory experiment measurement theory measurement uncertainties classical physics nomological machine |
| url | http://www.spe.ut.ee/ojs-2.2.2/index.php/spe/article/view/108/77 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT avemets measurementtheorynomologicalmachineandmeasurementuncertaintiesinclassicalphysics |