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Yemima Ben-Menachem: The Nature of Scientific Resistance – May 12, 2025
Description
A scientist proposes a new explanation for a natural phenomenon or a fundamental law of nature. In response, critics argue that the proposal fails to offer a truly new explanation, as the underlying premises already presume the desired outcome. This lecture will examine this objection through two or three specific case studies. The analysis will highlight the gap between natural phenomena and regularities and the mathematical language used to represent them. This divergence may have significant implications for traditional views on scientific explanation, as well as questions regarding the mathematical structure of the physical world.
Original title
ימימה בן מנחם - הכל כלול (בהנחות): טבעה של התנגדות זו בהקשר המדעי - 12.05.2025
מדענית מציעה הסבר חדש לתופעת טבע (או לחוק טבע). בתגובה עולה ההתנגדות שאין כאן הסבר חדש שכן ההנחות שביסוד ההסבר החדש מניחות את התוצאה המבוקשת. ההרצאה תבחן את ההתנגדות תוך התייחסות לשניים שלושה מקרי בוחן. בחינה זו תחדד את הפער בין התופעות והסדירויות הטבעיות לבין השפה המתמטית שמייצגת אותן. לפער זה עשויות להיות השלכות על עמדות מקובלות לגבי הסבר מדעי וכן לשאלות הנוגעות למבנה המתמטי של העולם.
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