Any theory appealing to convention to explain something which is not obviously of conventional origin (as, for example, the symbols chosen for some purpose are).
Among older writers, conventionalism is associated especially with Jules Henri Poincare (1854-1912) and Pierre-Maurice Duhem (1861-1916); and among modern ones with Willard Van Orman Quine (1908-2000).
In logic and mathematics conventionalism says that a priori truths are true only because of linguistic convention (which raises the question whether the correct application of such conventions is itself conventional: if it is we are in danger of an infinite regress of conventions). In science, conventionalism says that it is conventional which of competing and inconsistent scientific systems we adopt (though it need not be arbitrary – one may be simpler than another, or more likely to lead to further ideas, and so on.
Also see: instrumentalism
Source:
K Britton and J O Urmson and W C Kneale, ‘Are Necessary Truths True by Convention?’ (symposium), Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, supplementary volume (1947)
Table of Contents
- 1 Videos
- 2 Related Products
- 2.1 Necessity, Essence, and Individuation: A Defense of Conventionalism
- 2.2 The Two Fundamental Problems of the Theory of Knowledge (Routledge Classics)
- 2.3 Conventionalism: From Poincare to Quine
- 2.4 # 1 A 2019 Album: Exotic Calm
- 2.5 Poincare's Philosophy: From Conventionalism to Phenomenology
- 2.6 Yves Saint Laurent, Fire Starter
- 2.7 Curious Little Werewolf
- 2.8 # 1 A 2019 Album: Soothing Reflections
- 2.9 # 1 A 2019 Album: Cool Resting
- 2.10 Reality Itself: Philosophical Challenges of Indian Mahāyāna (Entre le visible et l’invisible Book 2)
Videos
Necessity, Essence, and Individuation: A Defense of Conventionalism
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Sidelle, Alan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 216 Pages - 10/01/1989 (Publication Date) - NCROL (Publisher)
The Two Fundamental Problems of the Theory of Knowledge (Routledge Classics)
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Popper, Karl (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 551 Pages - 05/01/2014 (Publication Date) - Routledge (Publisher)
Conventionalism: From Poincare to Quine
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Hardcover Book
- Ben-Menahem, Yemima (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 344 Pages - 04/21/2006 (Publication Date) - Cambridge University Press (Publisher)
Poincare's Philosophy: From Conventionalism to Phenomenology
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Zahar, Elie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 06/05/2001 (Publication Date) - Open Court (Publisher)
Yves Saint Laurent, Fire Starter
- Amazon Prime Video (Video on Demand)
- Yves Saint Laurent (Actor)
- Carla Duarte (Director) - Miguel Somoza (Producer)
- English (Playback Language)
- English (Subtitle)
Curious Little Werewolf
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Salidas, Katie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 241 Pages - 05/24/2016 (Publication Date) - Rising Sign Books (Publisher)
Reality Itself: Philosophical Challenges of Indian Mahāyāna (Entre le visible et l’invisible Book 2)
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- O'Leary, Joseph (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 542 Pages - 04/20/2019 (Publication Date)
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