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Work #437 · Early

Patterns of Discovery

Norwood Russell Hanson
1958 · English
Philosophy of science · Anglo-American post-Wittgensteinian philosophy of science

Hanson's 1958 foundational work on the theory-ladenness of observation in science

Attribute Fingerprint

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

Attribute Patterns of Discovery (Early)
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

Patterns of Discovery

The historical time of scientific discovery.

✦

Space

Patterns of Discovery

The space of theory-laden observation.

◉

Matter

Patterns of Discovery

The observed material world.

◎

Observer

Patterns of Discovery

The theory-laden scientific observer.

⚡

Energy

Patterns of Discovery

Energies of theory-laden seeing.

⧉

Information

Patterns of Discovery

Foundational theory-ladenness framework.

Internal Tensions

Where each work's argument pulls against itself.

Patterns of Discovery

Hanson's theory-ladenness in continuing dialogue with realist accounts of observation.