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Colligation in modelling practices: From Whewell's tides to the San Francisco Bay Model
Claudia Cristalli1, Julia Sánchez-Dorado2
1University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
|May 10, 2021
Summary
Colligation, a concept from philosophy of science, helps understand scientific models by integrating diverse components like data and theory. This creative process yields novel generalizations, as seen in historical tide research and modern model construction.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Science
- History of Science
- Scientific Modeling
Background:
- The concept of "colligation" was introduced by William Whewell in 1840.
- Renewed interest in colligation extends beyond traditional Whewell scholarship.
- Understanding scientific models can be enhanced by adopting Whewell's notion of colligation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the utility of colligation in contemporary philosophy of science debates.
- To demonstrate how colligation aids in understanding the integration of diverse components in scientific models.
- To analyze the role of colligation in generating novel generalizations from integrated model elements.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical appraisal of William Whewell's philosophy of science.
- Historical analysis of Whewell's scientific work on tides.
- Examination of colligation within a philosophy of science in practice framework.
Main Results:
- Colligation emerged from Whewell's empirical investigations into tides.
- Idealized "cotidal maps" exemplify the unifying and creative power of colligation.
- The epistemic role of colligation is evident in the construction of the San Francisco Bay Model.
Conclusions:
- Colligation offers a valuable framework for understanding how diverse elements are integrated in scientific modeling.
- The creative synthesis facilitated by colligation leads to the development of new scientific generalizations.
- Whewell's concept of colligation remains relevant for contemporary studies in scientific modeling and practice.
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