HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF MEASUREMENT - A REALIST VIEW |
|---|
| Joel Michell |
- Abstract:
- According to the realist interpretation, measurement is the estimation of numerical relations (or ratios) between magnitudes of a quantitative attribute and a unit. The history of scientific measurement, from antiquity to the present may be interpreted as revealing a progressive deepening in the understanding of this position. First, the concept of ratio was broadened to include ratios between incommensurable magnitudes; second, the concept of a quantitative attribute was broadened to include non-extensive quantities; third, quantitative structure and its relations to ratios and real numbers were elaborated; and finally, the issue of empirically distinguishing between quantitative and non-quantitative structures was addressed. This interpretation of measurement understands it in a way that is continuous with scientific investigation in general, i.e., as an attempt to discover independently existing facts.
- Keywords:
- realism, philosophy of measurement, history of measurement
- Download:
- IMEKO-TC7-2004-128.pdf
- DOI:
- -
- Event details
- IMEKO TC:
- TC7
- Event name:
- TC7 Symposium 2004
- Title:
10th Symposium on Advances of Measurement Science
- Place:
- St. Petersburg, RUSSIA
- Time:
- 30 June 2004 - 02 July 2004