Semantic view of theories
Encyclopedia
The semantic view of theories is a position in the philosophy of science
that holds that a scientific theory can be identified with a collection of models
. The semantic view of theories was originally proposed by Patrick Suppes
in “A Comparison of the Meaning and Uses of Models in Mathematics and the Empirical Sciences” as a reaction against the received view of theories
popular among the logical positivists
. Many varieties of the semantic view propose identifying theories with a class of set-theoretic models in the Tarskian
sense, while others specify models in the mathematical language stipulated by the field of which the theory is a member
and Rudolf Carnap
. On the contrast between syntactic and semantic views, see for instance Bas van Fraassen writes:
In this same book, van Fraassen, a key founder of the semantic view of theories, critiques the syntactic view in very strong terms:
The semantic view of theories has been extended to other domains, including population genetics
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
that holds that a scientific theory can be identified with a collection of models
Model theory
In mathematics, model theory is the study of mathematical structures using tools from mathematical logic....
. The semantic view of theories was originally proposed by Patrick Suppes
Patrick Suppes
Patrick Colonel Suppes is an American philosopher who has made significant contributions to philosophy of science, the theory of measurement, the foundations of quantum mechanics, decision theory, psychology, and educational technology...
in “A Comparison of the Meaning and Uses of Models in Mathematics and the Empirical Sciences” as a reaction against the received view of theories
Received view of theories
The received view of theories is a position in the philosophy of science that identifies a scientific theory with a set of propositions which are considered to be linguistic objects, such as axioms...
popular among the logical positivists
Logical positivism
Logical positivism is a philosophy that combines empiricism—the idea that observational evidence is indispensable for knowledge—with a version of rationalism incorporating mathematical and logico-linguistic constructs and deductions of epistemology.It may be considered as a type of analytic...
. Many varieties of the semantic view propose identifying theories with a class of set-theoretic models in the Tarskian
Alfred Tarski
Alfred Tarski was a Polish logician and mathematician. Educated at the University of Warsaw and a member of the Lwow-Warsaw School of Logic and the Warsaw School of Mathematics and philosophy, he emigrated to the USA in 1939, and taught and carried out research in mathematics at the University of...
sense, while others specify models in the mathematical language stipulated by the field of which the theory is a member
Semantic vs. Syntactic views of theories
The semantic view is typically contrasted with the syntactic view of theories of the logical positivists and logical empiricists, especially Carl Gustav HempelCarl Gustav Hempel
Carl Gustav "Peter" Hempel was a philosopher of science and a major figure in 20th-century logical empiricism...
and Rudolf Carnap
Rudolf Carnap
Rudolf Carnap was an influential German-born philosopher who was active in Europe before 1935 and in the United States thereafter. He was a major member of the Vienna Circle and an advocate of logical positivism....
. On the contrast between syntactic and semantic views, see for instance Bas van Fraassen writes:
The syntactic picture of a theory identifies it with a body of theorems, stated in one particular language chosen for the expression of that theory. This should be contrasted with the alternative of presenting a theory in the first instance by identifying a class of structures as its models. In this second, semantic, approach the language used to express the theory is neither basic nor unique; the same class of structures could well be described in radically different ways, each with its own limitations. The models occupy central stage.
In this same book, van Fraassen, a key founder of the semantic view of theories, critiques the syntactic view in very strong terms:
Perhaps the worst consequence of the syntactic approach was the way it focussed attention on philosophically irrelevant technical questions. It is hard not to conclude that those discussions of axiomatizability in restricted vocabularies, 'theoretical terms', Craig’s theorem, 'reduction sentences', 'empirical languages', Ramsey and Carnap sentences, were one and all off the mark—solutions to purely self-generated problems, and philosophically irrelevant. (p. 56)
The semantic view of theories has been extended to other domains, including population genetics