Idealization in Scientific Explanation

Presenter Information

Robert Batterman, Rotman Institute of Science and Values, The University of Western OntarioFollow
Nicolas Fillion, Rotman Institute of Science and Values, The University of Western OntarioFollow
Robert Moir, Rotman Institute of Science and Values, The University of Western OntarioFollow
James Overton, Rotman Institute of Science and Values, The University of Western OntarioFollow

Start Date

24-3-2010 3:00 PM

End Date

24-3-2010 6:00 PM

Description

Many phenomena pose interesting “fundamental” questions for both physics and philosophy of science. Understanding and explanation often seem to require non-Galilean, essential idealizations. But idealizations are false. This fact suggests that we need to give up on the view that truth is a necessary condition for explanation.