'Of Water Drops and Atomic Nuclei: Analogies and Pursuit Worthiness in Science'
Accepted version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Nyrup, Rune https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9880-6912
Abstract
This paper highlights a use of analogies in science that so far has received relatively little systematic discussion: providing reasons for pursuing a model or theory. Using the development of the liquid drop model as a test case, I critically assess two extant pursuit worthiness accounts: (i) that analogies justify pursuit by supporting plausibility arguments and (ii) that analogies can serve as a guide to potential theoretical unification. Neither of these fit the liquid drop model case. Instead, I develop an alternative account, based on the idea that analogies facilitate the transfer of a well-understood modelling strategy to a new domain.
Description
Keywords
5003 Philosophy, 50 Philosophy and Religious Studies, 5002 History and Philosophy Of Specific Fields
Journal Title
British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
0007-0882
1464-3537
1464-3537
Volume Title
71
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
Leverhulme Trust (RC-2015-067)
Leverhulme Trust Research Centre Grant (awarded to the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence)