THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEORY AND OBSERVATION IN SCIENCE

Abstract

In Chapter I, at introduction is given the "traditional" deductivist view of the relationship between theory and observation, which is held by philosophers like Hempel and Nagel. Criticisms of this view, notably by Kuhn and Feyerabend, are then outlined, and a brief sketch of the direction to be taken by the thesis is given. In Chapter II, a close look is taken at observation and the observation language. The deductivist view of observation and the observation language is outlined, and some difficulties faced by this are surface. A detailed account of the factors which influence observation structure of the observation language is then given. In the light of this account, it is then discussed in detail why the deductivist account of the theory-observation relationship is inaccurate. A more accurate account of this relationship is suggested. In Chapter III, the relationship between theory and observation is examined from the theoretical perspective. The deductivist view of theories is outlined. The inadequacies of the view are then dealt with, and a more comprehensive account of theories is suggested. This new account is then shown to reinforce the conclusions on the character of the theory-observation relationship, the second half of the chapter then examines the crucial question of whether such conclusions necessarily entail that objective theory choice is not possible as all observation is theory-influenced. The thesis examines various senses in which observation is “theory-informed” and concludes that objective theory choice is possible. In Chapter IV, the main points made in the two preceding chapters are reiterated and a summary account of the theory-observation relationship is given.