Beauty & Revolution in ScienceHow reasonable and rational can science be when its practitioners speak of "revolutions" in their thinking and extol certain theories for their "beauty"? James W. McAllister addresses this question with the first systematic study of the aesthetic evaluations that scientists pass on their theories. P. A. M. Dirac explained why he embraced relativity by saying, "It is the essential beauty of the theory which I feel is the real reason for believing in it". Dirac's claim seems to belie rationalist accounts of science. Using this and a wealth of other historical examples, McAllister explains how scientists' aesthetic preferences are influenced by the empirical track record of theories, describes the origin and development of aesthetic styles of theorizing, and reconsiders whether simplicity is an empirical or an aesthetic virtue of theories. McAllister then advances an innovative model of scientific revolutions, in opposition to that of Thomas S. Kuhn. Three detailed studies demonstrate the interconnection of empirical performance, beauty, and revolution. One examines the impact of new construction materials on the history of architecture. Another reexamines the transition from the Ptolemaic system to Kepler's theory in planetary astronomy, and the third documents the rise of relativity and quantum theory in the twentieth century. |
Contents
Two Erroneous Views of Scientists Aesthetic Judgments | 3 |
Circles and Ellipses in Astronomy | 5 |
Abstract Entities and Aesthetic Evaluations | 24 |
Copyright | |
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abstract entity accord actor-network theory aesthetic and empirical aesthetic canon aesthetic considerations aesthetic criteria aesthetic factors aesthetic induction aesthetic judgment aesthetic preferences aesthetic properties aesthetic value architecture astronomy attributed Beauty & Revolution century Chapter claim Copernicus Copernicus's theory correlation criteria for theory criterion degree of simplicity degrees of empirical Dirac Einstein empirical adequacy empirical criteria empirical data empirical judgment empirical performance equations evaluations of theories example exhibit fact form of simplicity form of symmetry formulation goal analysis Hutcheson inductive projection instance iron Kuhn Kuhn's logical positivists mathematical astronomy Maxwell's equations mechanics metaphysical model of scientific motions Newton's objects phenomena physical cosmology physicists precepts projectivism Properties of Scientific properties of theories quantum electrodynamics quantum theory rationalist image regard Revolution in Science scientific communities scientific practice scientific revolutions scientific theories scientists suggested theo theory assessment theory choice theory evaluation theory of relativity theory's thetic tion truth virtue visualization warranted