Scientific Visualisation

This book introduces the concept of ad-hoc syntaxes to explain why pictorial means can bear epistemic weight in the context of formal scientific reasoning. The main line of argumentation follows up on works by Laura Perini and Nelson Goodman, and is backed up by practical examples from the field of scientific visualisation.

Much of the recent confidence in the future of science and technology stems from advances in scientific visualisation. But is it right to assume that visual and especially pictorial measures carry special epistemic weight in the context of scientific reasoning? Do pictorial approaches have any surpluses, compared to other semiotic types? This book delves into these issues from the point of view of the philosophy of science. New examples from the field of scientific visualisation are introduced in order to account for the epistemic weight and surpluses of syntactically dense pictorial symbol systems.

Autorentext

Marianne Richter studied philosophy and literature in Stuttgart, Erlangen (Germany) and London. She received her doctoral degree in philosophy at the University of Stuttgart. Her interests are devoted to issues at the various interfaces between science, philosophy of science, ethics and aesthetics.

Inhalt

Contents: The Epistemic Problem of Dense Symbolic Systems - A Case for the Epistemic Weight of Picture-Like Symbol Systems - Epistemic Surpluses of Picture-Like Symbol Systems - The Role and Performance of Pictorial Means in Contexts of Scientific Reasoning - New Examples from the Field of Scientific Visualisation - Ad hoc Syntaxes in Contexts of Formal Reasoning.