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Yogi Jaeger
Yogi Jaeger
@yoginho@spore.social  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

I've finished the first draft of my paper about William Wimsatt and his multi-perspectival realism.

I think every practicing scientist today should know about his philosophy. It will make you a better researcher, I guarantee. And it will help you feel more comfortable exploring the structure of a messy and imperfect world without losing track of your limitations.

#philsci #science #philosophy #perspectivism

Re-Engineering Wimsatt for Limited Beings
Johannes Jaeger

Abstract
Science is the best way to get a robust grip on reality. The best, at least, that limited human beings have devised so far. Yet, not even scientists quite seem to understand how scientific knowledge is produced. This is not only a philosophical but also a practical problem, as our misunderstandings affect the quality of our research and limit the directions it can take. In light of this, it may be good if we reflected a bit more on how we do science — to become better researchers through philosophy. Here, I provide an accessible introduction to a philosophical approach that achieves precisely this: William Wimsatt’s multi-perspectival realism. It disabuses us of widespread but misleading myths and idealizations concerning science, such as the idea that it can approach a “view from nowhere” — complete and objectively detached knowledge of the world. Wismatt proposes an alternative view based on his thorough studies of actual research practice. It cuts deeply into the layered yet messy structure of reality, and the improvised but potent tools we have available, as limited intelligences, to explore it. Wimsatt reframes science as an irregular yet adaptive process rather than a cumulative repository of unchangeable facts. His philosophy provides a workable and grounded middle way between constructivist relativism and objectivist realism.
Re-Engineering Wimsatt for Limited Beings Johannes Jaeger Abstract Science is the best way to get a robust grip on reality. The best, at least, that limited human beings have devised so far. Yet, not even scientists quite seem to understand how scientific knowledge is produced. This is not only a philosophical but also a practical problem, as our misunderstandings affect the quality of our research and limit the directions it can take. In light of this, it may be good if we reflected a bit more on how we do science — to become better researchers through philosophy. Here, I provide an accessible introduction to a philosophical approach that achieves precisely this: William Wimsatt’s multi-perspectival realism. It disabuses us of widespread but misleading myths and idealizations concerning science, such as the idea that it can approach a “view from nowhere” — complete and objectively detached knowledge of the world. Wismatt proposes an alternative view based on his thorough studies of actual research practice. It cuts deeply into the layered yet messy structure of reality, and the improvised but potent tools we have available, as limited intelligences, to explore it. Wimsatt reframes science as an irregular yet adaptive process rather than a cumulative repository of unchangeable facts. His philosophy provides a workable and grounded middle way between constructivist relativism and objectivist realism.
Re-Engineering Wimsatt for Limited Beings Johannes Jaeger Abstract Science is the best way to get a robust grip on reality. The best, at least, that limited human beings have devised so far. Yet, not even scientists quite seem to understand how scientific knowledge is produced. This is not only a philosophical but also a practical problem, as our misunderstandings affect the quality of our research and limit the directions it can take. In light of this, it may be good if we reflected a bit more on how we do science — to become better researchers through philosophy. Here, I provide an accessible introduction to a philosophical approach that achieves precisely this: William Wimsatt’s multi-perspectival realism. It disabuses us of widespread but misleading myths and idealizations concerning science, such as the idea that it can approach a “view from nowhere” — complete and objectively detached knowledge of the world. Wismatt proposes an alternative view based on his thorough studies of actual research practice. It cuts deeply into the layered yet messy structure of reality, and the improvised but potent tools we have available, as limited intelligences, to explore it. Wimsatt reframes science as an irregular yet adaptive process rather than a cumulative repository of unchangeable facts. His philosophy provides a workable and grounded middle way between constructivist relativism and objectivist realism.
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Yogi Jaeger
Yogi Jaeger
@yoginho@spore.social replied  ·  activity timestamp 2 months ago

For more background:

Here is Wimsatt's book "Re-Engineering Philosophy for Limited Beings."

https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674015456

And Wimsatt's Wiki page:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_C._Wimsatt

Cover of Wimsatt's book "Re-Engineering Philosophy for Limited Beings" with Arcimboldo's "Vertumus" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertumnus_(Arcimboldo)) which is a head consisting of a collage of fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
Cover of Wimsatt's book "Re-Engineering Philosophy for Limited Beings" with Arcimboldo's "Vertumus" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertumnus_(Arcimboldo)) which is a head consisting of a collage of fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
Cover of Wimsatt's book "Re-Engineering Philosophy for Limited Beings" with Arcimboldo's "Vertumus" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertumnus_(Arcimboldo)) which is a head consisting of a collage of fruit, vegetables, and flowers.
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