Measurement, coordination, and the relativized a priori. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Padovani, Flavia
• Is Part Of: Studies in history and philosophy of modern physics. Volume 52:Part B(2015)
• Page Start: 123
• Page End: 128
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Coordination -- Measurement -- Relativized a priori -- Hans Reichenbach -- Michael Friedman; Physics -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Physics -- History -- Periodicals; 530.01
• DOI: 10.1016/j.shpsb.2015.03.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-2198

Abstract

Abstract: The problem of measurement is a central issue in the epistemology and methodology of the physical sciences. In recent literature on scientific representation, large emphasis has been put on the "constitutive role" played by measurement procedures as forms of representation. Despite its importance, this issue hardly finds any mention in writings on constitutive principles, viz. in Michael Friedman׳s account of relativized a priori principles. This issue, instead, was at the heart of Reichenbach׳s analysis of coordinating principles that has inspired Friedman׳s interpretation. This paper suggests that these procedures should have a part in an account of constitutive principles of science, and that they could be interpreted following the intuition originally present (but ultimately not fully developed) in Reichenbach׳s early work.