data-theory-equilibriation
Scientific inquiry seeks a balance between theorizing and empirical data, but this equilibrium is repeatedly disrupted by new discoveries enabled by technological innovation.
1 chapter across 1 book
Epistemology: An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (2003)Nicholas Rescher
Chapter 12 of Rescher's Epistemology explores scientific progress as an ongoing exploration of nature's parametric space, emphasizing the necessity of increasingly sophisticated technology to access new observational frontiers. Scientific inquiry is characterized by a continuous interplay between theory and data, with technological advancements driving the discovery of new phenomena and the subsequent revision of scientific understanding. The chapter highlights the escalating costs and challenges of pushing beyond our evolutionary sensory limits to achieve further cognitive progress in natural science.