The concept of intelligibility in modern physics (1948). (June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feyerabend, Paul K.
• Is Part Of: Studies in history and philosophy of science. Volume 57(2016)
• Page Start: 64
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2016-06
• Subjects: Paul Feyerabend -- Erwin Schrödinger -- Anschaulichkeit -- Visualizability -- Positivism; Science -- History -- Periodicals; Science -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; 509
• DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.11.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0039-3681

Abstract

Abstract: This is an English translation of Paul Feyerabend's earliest extant essay "Der Begriff der Verständlichkeit in der modernen Physik" (1948). In it, Feyerabend defends positivism as a progressive framework for scientific research in certain stages of scientific development. He argues that in physics visualizability ( Anschaulichkeit ) and intelligibility ( Verständlichkeit ) are time-conditioned concepts: what is deemed visualizable in the development of physical theories is relative to a specific historical context and changes over time. He concludes that from time to time the abandonment of visualizability is crucial for progress in physics, as it is conducive to major theory change, illustrating the point on the basis of advances in atomic theory.