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Procedural Representation in Michael Faraday's Scientific Thought

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2022

Ryan D. Tweney
Ryan D. Tweney*
Affiliation:
Bowling Green State University
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Extract

Michael Faraday (1791-1867) was a productive, historically significant, figure who has served as the subject of several recent attempts to construct a cognitive model of the nature of scientific thinking (Gooding, 1985; Nersessian, 1984; Tweney, 1985a; in press). Of particular interest in the present context is the relation of such an analysis to the broader issue of the role of cognitive accounts in the philosophy of science. In accord with Giere's call for a ‘cognitive realism,’ I believe there are substantial philosophical implications that stem from one overriding characteristic of Faraday's work, namely his reliance on procedural ways of thinking. By procedural, I mean thinking which is rooted in specific activities whether concrete or abstract. As will become clear, my use of this term places me at odds with those psychologists, like Piaget, who regard concrete thought as different in kind and less powerful than formal thought. While it is indeed different in kind, it is not less powerful.

Type
Part IX. Epistemology
Information
PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association , Volume 1986 , Issue 2: Volume Two: Symposia and Invited Papers 1986 , 1986 , pp. 336 - 344
Copyright
Copyright © 1987 by the Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

1

Grateful acknowledgement is made to the archival staffs of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, London, England, and to the Royal Institution of Great Britain, London, England, for access to unpublished materials. The research described was supported in part by grants from the Faculty Research Committee, Bowling Green State University.

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