This paper is an in-depth study of the Quine-Duhem thesis which denies that the disconfirmation of a theory can be forced upon a practitioner by the evidence itself.
Abstract This paper examines the Quine-Duhem thesis, exploring what it tells us about the nature of knowledge. The author gives the reader background on Quine and Duhem's own thinking in order to lay the foundation for their joint work. The author looks at different theories presented in physics by Newton and then discusses Popper's theory on falsification. The author then looks at issues concerning ontology and the related issues of logic. At each of these stages the author uses examples from the Quine-Duhem thesis to show differences and in some cases to refute the theory being discussed. According to the author, the Quine-Duhem thesis tells us that what we know about the philosophy of science, is dependent on what we are willing to acknowledge that we do not know, and the great question for science thus shifts from one that is entirely ontological to one that is at the heart of our humanity.
From the Paper "Whether the false prediction resulted from the falsity of the tested hypothesis or the falsity of some other one or more of the auxiliary assumptions is not known. However, according to the Quine-Duhem thesis, it is in fact possible by suitable modification or buttressing of the proper auxiliary hypotheses to save any theory from potential refutation. Furthermore, it is often claimed that historical research shows that scientists do frequently do precisely this. (This need not be, it is probably obvious but may be worth pointing out, the kind of behavior that we consider to be fraud or scientific dishonesty, but rather may lie well within the margin of error of interpretation and observation. Hence it would seem that, to deny to Popper everything that he has ever seemingly believed in, theories cannot be definitively refuted any more than they can be confirmed (Carnap, 1956, p. 71)."
According to W. V. O. Quine, whatever ontology best serves the epistemological role in science merits adoption. This paper looks at the nine essays which appear in his "From a Logical Point of View".
Abstract This paper specifically looks at two essays by Quine: "On What There Is" and ?Identity, Ostension, and Hypostasis.? In each of these essays, Quine eloquently, clearly and often humorously lays out the means by which he arrives at his ontological conclusion. The paper examines these essays, comparing their modes of emparting Quine's theories.
From the Paper "If we imagine trying to teach someone, say a stranger to our language, to what thing the name "river" refers, we can point to various "river stages" of the same river, stages which, by virtue of their being spatially spread, adhere to temporal spread as well. "River" it turns out refers not just to an object but to a process, a conglomeration of an infinite number of river stages spread over time and space. To identify to our new friend only "this river", we must assume his prior knowledge of "river". But, to give him the notion of "river" in general, we need only point to numerous river stages of several rivers. Finally, to help our friend's understanding of "Ca"ster?, we merely replace "river" with "Ca"ster? in our oral repetitions. By means of induction, a stranger can acquire some modicum of awareness of the words we use to identify spatio-temporal concrete objects."
Abstract The paper explains that WV Quine's philosophy focuses on the nature of existence and knowledge as subjective and therefore impossible to experience outside of personal subjectivity. The writer then relates why he finds Quine's views appealing and why Quine's philosophy plays a key role in the philosophical views of today.
From the Paper "According to Gary Kemp (1), epistemology is the theory of knowledge, and metaphysics is the theory of reality. These two concepts have concern philosophers in various ways over many centuries. Concomitantly, philosophy has frequently concerned itself with the nature of "truth" as a concept that is central to reality. While some philosophers have made claims to having found a specific truth, others have acknowledged that this concept is ultimately not only subjective, but also illusive. WV Quine falls into the latter category. His philosophy focuses on the nature of existence and knowledge as subjective and therefore impossible to experience outside of personal subjectivity."
Abstract The following is an essay and analysis on W.V. Quine's central arguments in his work titled "Two Dogmas of Empiricism". In particular, this paper will focus on the argument that maintains that there can be no analytic truths with out some consideration of synthetic variables as well. In short, it is argued that synthetic factors have a determining impact in shaping what we have traditionally regarded as 'analytic'. Thus, a consideration and analysis of what Quine regards as 'analytic' and 'synthetic' becomes a central concern.
Abstract This paper explains that while we talk of observation as the evidential basis of science, Quine thinks that the notion of observation is too unclear to be helpful. The paper continues that evidential support of science therefore, comes down to a relation of stimulation to scientific theory. The author refutes that observation is relative to linguistic, professional or cultural communities, rather than to the whole speech community.
From the Paper "An observation sentence may be holophrastic, or consist of a single noun or adjective thought of as a sentence, such as "Sunny", "Cloudless", or "Rabbit" in place of the previously mentioned sentences. We may use conjunction to form further observation sentences from more primitive ones, or we may compound them by predication. From "Flower" and "Pink", we can form "This flower is pink". Equivalently, in terms of stimulus meaning, we could say "Pink flower" but we get a stronger connection than that through predication. The conjunction gets confirmation when stimulation by something in the scene confirms each of its component observation sentences. Predication however focuses the two observations, requiring them to coincide or overlap. For "This flower is pink", pink must encompass the flower; but it could extend beyond, the relation not being symmetric."
Tags: holophrastic, symmetric, observation, evidence, community
A discussion of the second volume in the "Record of the Grand Historian" by Sima Quin on early Chinese history with an emphasis on Zhang Qian, explorers and formation of the Silk Road.
1,650 words (approx. 6.6 pages), 1 source, 2002, $ 62.95
Abstract This paper is a review of the second volume in the "Record of the Grand Historian", the earliest histories of China as recorded by Sima Quin. The focus of the paper is on the foreign policies that surface in the story of Zhang Qian, a separate story of explorers and the early formation of the Silk Road.
