Theories from the Nmr Programme as Theories of Measurement: Resolving the Anomaly

Abstract

If we denote theories like those of Lakatos, Kuhn and Laudan as representing the “traditional” philosophy of science approach to scientific development, then the conclusion of the preceding chapter runs that this traditional approach neglects a factor in the actual appraisal and development of theories that is, for the case of nmr at least, an essential one. The present chapter analyzes, again for the particular case of nmr, what this factor amounts to: it is the (actual or expected) usefulness of theories from the nmr programme as theories of measurement or observation for revealing facts from the domains that other research programmes try to explain. To this end I will first present a number of typical examples of the use, or application, of theories of nmr as theories of measurement in the context of other research programmes (1.A). Next the logical structure will be elucidated of the process that we are dealing with here (1.B).