Titel
Otto Neurath’s Scientific Utopianism Revisited-A Refined Model for Utopias in Thought Experiments
Autor*in
Ivan Ferreira da Cunha
Department of Philosophy, Federal University of Santa Catarina
Abstract
Otto Neurath’s empiricist methodology of economics and his contributions to political economy have gained increasing attention in recent years. We connect this research with contemporary debates regarding the epistemological status of thought experiments by reconstructing Neurath’s utopias as linchpins of thought experiments. In our three reconstructed examples of different uses of utopias/dystopias in thought experiments we employ a reformulation of Häggqvist’s model for thought experiments and we argue that: (1) Our reformulation of Häggqvist’s model more adequately complies with many uses of thought experiments, especially with the open-ended discussions of utopias and dystopias in thought experiments. (2) As a strict logical empiricist, Neurath is committed to a strictly empiricist account of thought experiments. John Norton’s empiricist argument view can indeed account for the justifications of empirical beliefs and genuine discoveries targeted by scientific utopianism in three distinct (yet connected) ways, all of which Neurath already contemplated: (2.I) Dealing with utopias and thought experiments on a regular basis increases creativity and inventiveness. (2.II) Particular ways of presenting knowledge facilitate scientific discovery and social progress. (2.III) The use of utopias in thought experiments can prompt conceptual change and allow access to new phenomena. We conclude by highlighting that, even though thought experiments support a positive attitude for exploring new social possibilities, Neurath points out that active decisions are unavoidable. The exploration of alternatives and the awareness of a need for decisions in policy discussion avert a technocratic outlook in social science.
Stichwort
Otto NeurathUtopiaThought experimentArgument viewPlatonismPolicy advice
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
Erschienen in
Titel
Journal for General Philosophy of Science
ISSN
0925-4560
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Publication
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Projekt
Kod / Identifikator
W 1228-G18
Erscheinungsdatum
2023
Zugänglichkeit
Rechteangabe
© The Author(s) 2023

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