Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Following the first part of this article series, I will examine the notion of φ-sciences’ φ-ness on the example of Vihalemm’s early chemical studies on affinity and both early and later accounts of the periodic table. I analyse these cases as instances where he applies the term ‘measure’ or ‘qualitative quantity’ to denote a numerical assignment, presumably attained by some measurement procedures, that capture the essence of the studied phaenomenon. I will draw conclusions about measurement scales, the numericity and mathematicity of these case studies and, more generally, make a further attempt to theoretically clarify measurement in φ-sciences.
Author: Ave Mets
Institution: University of Tartu
Language: English
Subfield: History and Philosophy of Science
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4405717136