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9 - Holding the Hand of History

Mach on the History of Science, the Analysis of Sensations, and the Economy of Thought

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 March 2021

By
Luca Guzzardi
Edited by
John Preston
John Preston
Affiliation:
University of Reading
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Summary

I analyse the relation of two important doctrines of Ernst Mach’s epistemology – namely the theory of the elements, exposed in The Analysis of Sensations, and the economy of thought, mainly explored in Knowledge and Error and elsewhere – to his historical-critical approach. After discussing Erwin Hiebert’s seminal work on Mach’s philosophical use of the history of science, I defend the thesis that there is a more profound, structural relationship between Mach’s conception of history and the anti-metaphysical remarks which open The Analysis of Sensations and introduce his theory of the elements. Finally, I contend that this can provide novel insights into the doctrine of the economy of thought.

Keywords

Ernst MachElementsEconomy of thoughtHistorical-critical approachHistory of scienceAnti-metaphysics
Type
Chapter
Information
Interpreting Mach
Critical Essays
 , pp. 164 - 183
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

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