A Minimalist Framework for Thought Experiment Analysis

PICHA, Marek. A Minimalist Framework for Thought Experiment Analysis. Organon F. Bratislava: Vydavatelstvo Slovenskej Akademie Vied, Veda, 2016, vol. 23, No 4, p. 503-524. ISSN 1335-0668.

Basic information

• Original name: A Minimalist Framework for Thought Experiment Analysis
• Authors: PICHA, Marek (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Organon F, Bratislava, Vydavatelstvo Slovenskej Akademie Vied, Veda, 2016, 1335-0668.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
• Country of publisher: Slovakia
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14210/16:00092140
• Organization unit: Faculty of Arts
• UT WoS: 000389960700005
• Keywords (in Czech): experimentalismus; Galileo; minimalismus; rekonstrukce; Rescher; myšlenkové experimenty
• Keywords in English: experimentalism; Galileo; minimalism; reconstruction; Rescher; Sorensen; thought experiments
• Tags: rivok
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Thought experiments are frequently vague and obscure hypothetical scenarios that are difficult to assess. The paper proposes a simple model of thought experiments. In the first part, I introduce two contemporary frameworks for thought experiment analysis: an experimentalist approach that relies on similarities between real and thought experiment, and a reasonist approach focusing on the answers provided by thought experimenting. Further, I articulate a minimalist approach in which thought experiment is considered strictly as doxastic mechanism based on imagination. I introduce the basic analytical tool that allows us to differentiate an experimental core from an attached argumentation. The last section is reserved for discussion. I address several possible questions concerning adequacy of minimalistic definition and analysis.

Links

• MUNI/A/0991/2015, interní kód MU: Name: Perspektivy a výzvy filozofických zkoumání

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A