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Scientific Problems and Constraints

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2022

Thomas Nickles
Thomas Nickles*
Affiliation:
University of Nevada, Reno
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Extract

What is the relation between a scientific problem and the constraints on its satisfactory solution? To what extent can problems be identified with (or how far are they determined by) such constraints? What types of constraints are there, and how do the various types function to determine problems and their solutions? I wish to consider these questions in the context of a single historical case, the blackbody radiation problem, 1859-1900. Since only the most condensed treatment of even one historical problem is possible, I select one with a familiar and accessible history (see for details). Despite the historical attention it has received, I know of no philosophical treatment of the blackbody case from a problem oriented viewpoint.

More attention to constraints on problem solutions can help philosophers of science in several ways.

Type
Part IV. Case Studies with Applications to the Philosophy of Science
Information
PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association , Volume 1978 , Issue 1: Volume One: Contributed Papers 1978 , 1978 , pp. 134 - 148
Copyright
Copyright © 1978 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

1

Much of the research for this paper was done three years ago under a National Science Foundation grant. The paper was written with the aid of a grant from the Research Advisory Board, University of Nevada. I am grateful to both organizations for support and to Maurice Finocchiaro and a PSA referee for helpful, if mutually incompatible, criticisms.

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