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Work #663 · Late

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

Pierre Duhem
1906 · French
Philosophy of physics · French Catholic philosophy of physics

Duhem's 1906 foundational philosophy of physics — Duhem-Quine underdetermination thesis

Attribute Fingerprint

Rows where works disagree are highlighted in gold. The full ontology grid is shown.

Attribute The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure) (Late)
Time · Extent Infinite
Time · Ontological Status Substantival
Time · Grain Continuous
Time · Freedom Non-Deterministic
Time · Traversability Linear
Time · Dimensionality One
Time · Direction Uni-directional
Space · Extent Infinite
Space · Ontological Status Substantival
Space · Curvature Flat
Space · Dimensionality Three
Space · Locality Local
Matter · Extent Infinite
Matter · Ontological Status Substantival
Matter · Conservation Conserved
Matter · Dimensionality Three
Matter · Locality Local
Observer · Time Instance Single
Observer · Space Instance Single
Observer · Knowledge Extent Partial
Observer · Knowledge Retainment Total
Observer · Physicality Embodied
Observer · Agency Both
Observer · Number Plural
Observer · Metaphysical Agency None
Observer · Moral Authority Reason
Observer · Theological Method
Energy · Extent Infinite
Energy · Ontological Status Substantival
Energy · Conservation Conserved
Energy · Dispersibility Irreversible
Information · Ontological Status Substantival
Information · Cosmic Conservation Conserved
Information · Personal Conservation Conserved
Information · Granularity Continuous

Dimension-by-Dimension Evidence

What each work's passages reveal about its stance on each of the six dimensions.

Time

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

The temporal time of theoretical-empirical inquiry.

Space

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

The theoretical-holistic space.

Matter

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

The phenomenal material being mathematically modeled.

Observer

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

The physicist constructing theory.

Energy

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

Energies of holistic theoretical inquiry.

Information

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

Foundational holist philosophy of science framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

The Aim and Structure of Physical Theory (La Théorie physique: son objet, sa structure)

Duhem's holism became the Duhem-Quine thesis, foundational for post-positivist philosophy of science.