Theory-ladenness of evidence: A case study from history of chemistry

dc.contributor.author Basu, Prajit K.
dc.date.accessioned 2022-03-26T23:44:17Z
dc.date.available 2022-03-26T23:44:17Z
dc.date.issued 2003-06-01
dc.description.abstract This paper attempts to argue for the theory-ladenness of evidence. It does so by employing and analysing an episode from the history of eighteenth century chemistry. It delineates attempts by Joseph Priestley and Antoine Lavoisier to construct entirely different kinds of evidence for and against a particular hypothesis from a set of agreed upon observations or (raw) data. Based on an augmented version of a distinction, drawn by J. Bogen and J. Woodward, between data and phenomena it is shown that the role of theoretical auxiliary assumptions is very important in constructing evidence for (or against) a theory from observation or (raw) data. In revolutionary situations, rival groups hold radically different theories and theoretical auxiliary assumptions. These are employed to construct very different evidence from the agreed upon set of observations or (raw) data. Hence, theory resolution becomes difficult. It is argued that evidence construction is a multi-layered exercise and can be disputed at any level. What counts as unproblematic observation or (raw) data at one level may become problematic at another level. The contingency of these constructions and the (un)problematic nature of evidence are shown to be partially dependent upon the scientific knowledge that the scientific community possesses. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
dc.identifier.citation Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A. v.34(2)
dc.identifier.issn 00393681
dc.identifier.uri 10.1016/S0039-3681(03)00022-0
dc.identifier.uri https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0039368103000220
dc.identifier.uri https://dspace.uohyd.ac.in/handle/1/2389
dc.subject Construction of evidence
dc.subject Eighteenth century chemical philosophy
dc.subject Observation/data
dc.subject Theory resolution
dc.subject Theory-ladenness of evidence
dc.title Theory-ladenness of evidence: A case study from history of chemistry
dc.type Journal. Article
dspace.entity.type
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