Kuhn on reference and essence

Alexander Bird

Philosophia Scientiae (2004)

  • Volume: 8, Issue: 1, page 39-71
  • ISSN: 1281-2463

Abstract

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Kuhn’s incommensurability thesis seems to challenge scientific realism. One response to that challenge is to focus on the continuity of reference. The causal theory of reference in particular seems to offer the possibility of continuity of reference that would provide a basis for the sort of comparability between theories that the realist requires. In “Dubbing and Redubbing: The Vulnerability of Rigid Designation” Kuhn attacks the causal theory and the essentialism to which it is related. Kuhn’s view is defended by Rupert Read and Wes Sharrock [Read Sharrok 2002b ] . In this paper I examine the arguments presented by Kuhn, Read, and Sharrock and show that they provide no reason to doubt either the causal theory or essentialism.

How to cite

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Bird, Alexander. "Kuhn on reference and essence." Philosophia Scientiae 8.1 (2004): 39-71. <http://eudml.org/doc/103717>.

@article{Bird2004,
abstract = {Kuhn’s incommensurability thesis seems to challenge scientific realism. One response to that challenge is to focus on the continuity of reference. The causal theory of reference in particular seems to offer the possibility of continuity of reference that would provide a basis for the sort of comparability between theories that the realist requires. In “Dubbing and Redubbing: The Vulnerability of Rigid Designation” Kuhn attacks the causal theory and the essentialism to which it is related. Kuhn’s view is defended by Rupert Read and Wes Sharrock [Read Sharrok 2002b$]$. In this paper I examine the arguments presented by Kuhn, Read, and Sharrock and show that they provide no reason to doubt either the causal theory or essentialism.},
author = {Bird, Alexander},
journal = {Philosophia Scientiae},
language = {eng},
number = {1},
pages = {39-71},
publisher = {Éditions Kimé},
title = {Kuhn on reference and essence},
url = {http://eudml.org/doc/103717},
volume = {8},
year = {2004},
}

TY - JOUR
AU - Bird, Alexander
TI - Kuhn on reference and essence
JO - Philosophia Scientiae
PY - 2004
PB - Éditions Kimé
VL - 8
IS - 1
SP - 39
EP - 71
AB - Kuhn’s incommensurability thesis seems to challenge scientific realism. One response to that challenge is to focus on the continuity of reference. The causal theory of reference in particular seems to offer the possibility of continuity of reference that would provide a basis for the sort of comparability between theories that the realist requires. In “Dubbing and Redubbing: The Vulnerability of Rigid Designation” Kuhn attacks the causal theory and the essentialism to which it is related. Kuhn’s view is defended by Rupert Read and Wes Sharrock [Read Sharrok 2002b$]$. In this paper I examine the arguments presented by Kuhn, Read, and Sharrock and show that they provide no reason to doubt either the causal theory or essentialism.
LA - eng
UR - http://eudml.org/doc/103717
ER -

References

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  1. [1] Bird, Alexander2000.— Thomas Kuhn, Chesham: Acumen. 
  2. [2] Bird, Alexander2001.— Necessarily, Salt Dissolves in Water, Analysis 61: 267-274. 
  3. [3] Bird, Alexander2002.— On Whether Some Laws are Necessary, Analysis 62: 257-270. 
  4. [4] Bird, Alexander2003.— Kuhn, Nominalism, and Empiricism, Philosophy of Science 70: 690-719. MR2018007
  5. [5] Fine, K.1994.— Essence and Modality”, Philosophical Perspectives, 8: 1-16. 
  6. [6] Frege, Gottlob1892.— On Sense and Meaning, in [Geach Black 1952, 56-78 ] . 
  7. [7] Geach P. and Black M. (editors) 1952.— Translations from the Philosophical Writings of Gottlob Frege, Oxford: Blackwell. Zbl0048.00102
  8. [8] Gunderson K. (editors) 1975.— Language, Mind and Knowledge, Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, VII, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 
  9. [9] Kripke, Saul1980.— Naming and Necessity, Oxford: Blackwell. 
  10. [10] Kuhn, Thomas1970.— The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 
  11. [11] Kuhn, Thomas1974.— Second Thoughts on Paradigms, in [Suppe 1974, 459-482 ] . 
  12. [12] Kuhn, Thomas1990.— Dubbing and Redubbing: The Vulnerability of Rigid Designation, in [Wade Savage 1990, 198-318 ] . 
  13. [13] Locke, John1690.— An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, A.D. Woozley (editor), Glasgow: Collins, III, vi, 13, 1964. 
  14. [14] Putnam, Hilary1975a.— The Meaning of ‘Meaning’, in [Gunderson 1975 ] . Reprinted in [Putnam 1975b, 215-271 ] . 
  15. [15] Putnam, Hilary1975b.— Mind, Language, and Reality, Philosophical Papers, II, Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press. Zbl0485.01026
  16. [16] Read, Ruppert and Sharrock Wes 2002.— Thomas Kuhn’s Misunderstood Relation to Kripke-Putnam Essentialism, Journal for the General Philosophy of Science, 33: 151-158 MR1941694
  17. [17] Sankey, Howard1994.— The Incommensurability Thesis, Aldershot: Avebury. 
  18. [18] Suppe (editor) 1974.— The Structure of Scientific Theories, Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press. MR392268
  19. [19] Wade Savage C. (editor) 1990.— Scientific Theories, Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, 14, Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press. 

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