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SUMMARY:Measurement error and the problem of quantity individuation - Eran
  Tal (Department of History and Philosophy of Science)
DTSTART:20160210T130000Z
DTEND:20160210T143000Z
UID:TALK63652@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:31287
DESCRIPTION:When discrepancies are discovered between outcomes of differen
 t measuring instruments two sorts of explanation are open to scientists. E
 ither (i) some of the outcomes are inaccurate or (ii) the instruments meas
 ure different quantities.  Here I argue that\, due to the possibility of s
 ystematic error\, the choice between (i) and (ii) is in principle underdet
 ermined by the evidence.  This poses a problem for philosophical views tha
 t attempt to analyze 'basic' measurement concepts like quantity \nand scal
 e independently of 'applied' concepts like accuracy and error. I show that
  such analysis in untenable in light of scientific practice\, and propose 
 an alternative\, model-based account of measurement that acknowledges the 
 co-dependence between foundations and application.  This account dissolves
  the problem of quantity individuation\, and \nprovides new insights into 
 the role measurement error plays in maintaining the unity of quantity conc
 epts.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 2\, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
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