Tag: Philosophy of Science
-
Wishful Thinking
Through wishful thinking, individuals prioritize desires over empirical truth in forming beliefs and making decisions. This phenomenon impacts both personal and broader societal decisions, underscoring the importance of critical, evidence-based thinking in navigating life’s complexities.
-
Limits of Language (Wittgenstein)
Ludwig Wittgenstein, a significant 20th-century philosopher, explored language’s role in shaping perceived reality. His works, from “Tractatus” to “Philosophical Investigations,” marked a paradigm shift, viewing language as dynamic and contextually driven, profoundly influencing philosophy, logic, and psychology.
-
Antifragility
Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s antifragility describes systems that gain from stress, differentiating from mere resilience. This principle, applicable from biological to economic systems, underscores growth and adaptation amidst volatility and unpredictability.
-
Demystification
Demystification, rooted in Enlightenment values, involves clarifying obscure subjects through rational explanations. Applied across various fields, it emphasizes analytical approaches and factual evidence to enhance understanding and challenge established beliefs.
-
Techne vs. Episteme
Stemming from Greek thought, Techne refers to hands-on skills and craftsmanship, while Episteme denotes theoretical understanding and universal truths, distinguishing two foundational types of knowledge.
-
The Uninitiated
The term “Uninitiated” historically referred to individuals not introduced to religious rituals or ceremonies. In contemporary contexts, its meaning has broadened to denote those unfamiliar with specific subjects or practices in various fields, distinguishing them from the “initiated” who possess domain-specific knowledge.
-
Paradoxical and, to the Uninitiated, Absurd
Diverging from classical Euclidean concepts, non-Euclidean geometry, birthed in the 19th century, explores alternative geometric systems. Its theoretical breakthroughs have been instrumental in reshaping fields from advanced physics to cosmology, enriching the comprehension of spatial constructs.
-
As-If
Originating from the works of philosopher Hans Vaihinger, the “As-If” approach facilitates the analysis of complex systems using hypothetical scenarios. This methodology, while not always reflecting true conditions, aids in rendering intricate concepts more comprehensible.
-
Adding Epicycles
In scientific modeling, adding epicycles refers to augmenting a model’s structure to accommodate unexplained data. This practice, which has its roots in ancient geocentric theories of astronomy, often compromises both the model’s simplicity and its predictive accuracy.