I have started reading Scientific Representation by Bas C Van Fraasen
and I have just finished the first chapter, Representation Of,
Representation As. Here there is a discussion what we mean by
representation in a normal language. The author defends that a
representation is
p. 21 "Z uses X to depict Y as F"
I am curious to see how this will be applied to science as the author
argues that "Z uses" is an important part of the representation and
cannot be removed.
Below there is a couple of quotes related to a discussion on whether a
copy could be a representation. It could be used to bring a new look at
"Yes, Doctor".
p. 19 "Socrates' thought experiment ... has a quite contemporary ring,
if we replace gods (as it usual now) with mad scientists."
p. 19 Quote from Cratylus (Socrates talks to Cratylus). "Let us suppose
the existence of two objects. One of them shall be Cratylus, and the
other the image of Cratylus, and we will suppose, further, that some god
makes not only a representation such as a painter would make of your
outward form and color, but also creates an inward organization like
yours, having the same warmth and softness, and into this infuses
motion, and soul, and mind, such as you have, and in a word copies all
your quantities, and places them by you in another form. Would you say
this was Cratylus and the image of Cratylus, or that there were two
Cratyluses?"
p. 22 "Look back now at Socrates, Cratylus, and the god they imagine.
Did the god make an image of Cratylus or did he not make a
representation of anything, but a clone? That depends. Cratylus was too
nasty in his response. Did this god go on to display what he made to the
Olympic throng as a perfect image of Greek manhood? Or did he display it
as an example his prowess at creature-making? Or did he do neither, but
press the replica into personal service, since he couldn't have Cratylus
himself?"
Evgenii
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