Is there a philosophical analysis of scientific extrapolation?

In summary, there is a book titled "Across the Boundaries: Extrapolation in Biology and..." by Daniel Steel that discusses the philosophical approach of scientific extrapolation. It addresses the challenges posed by the use of surrogate models in clinical research and basic science, and offers potential solutions to the problem of extrapolation. The book is published by Oxford University Press and can be found on Google Books.
  • #1
Robin04
260
16
Hi,

Could you recommend a book/essay/anything else about the philosophical approach of scientific extrapolation?
 
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  • #2
Robin04 said:
Could you recommend a book/essay/anything else about the philosophical approach of scientific extrapolation?

Both clinical research and basic science rely on the epistemic practice of extrapolation from surrogate models, to the point that explanatory accounts presented in review papers and biology textbooks are in fact composite pictures reconstituted from data gathered in a variety of distinct experimental setups.

This raises two new challenges to previously proposed mechanistic-similarity solutions to the problem of extrapolation: one pertaining to the absence of mechanistic knowledge in the early stages of research and the second to the large number of extrapolations underpinning explanatory accounts.
reference;
http://bjps.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2015/03/14/bjps.axv018.abstract
 
  • #3
Robin04 said:
Could you recommend a book/essay/anything else about the philosophical approach of scientific extrapolation?

Here is an interesting book in your interest area:
Across the Boundaries
Extrapolation in Biology and ...
By Daniel Steel
Oxford Univ. Press
Reference:
https://books.google.co.in/books?hl...analysis of scientific extrapolation&f=false
 

Related to Is there a philosophical analysis of scientific extrapolation?

1. What is the definition of "Philosophy of extrapolation"?

The philosophy of extrapolation is a branch of philosophy that deals with the principles and methods for extending existing knowledge to make predictions or inferences about future events or phenomena. It is concerned with understanding the reliability and limitations of extrapolation as a form of reasoning.

2. What is the difference between extrapolation and induction?

Extrapolation and induction are both forms of reasoning used to make predictions or inferences about future events or phenomena. However, the main difference between the two is that induction uses specific observations or data to make generalizations, while extrapolation extends existing knowledge to make predictions beyond the scope of the original data.

3. What are the key assumptions of the philosophy of extrapolation?

The philosophy of extrapolation is based on the assumption that the future will be similar to the past and that patterns and trends observed in the past will continue in the future. It also assumes that the underlying principles and laws governing a system will remain constant over time.

4. How is the reliability of extrapolation determined?

The reliability of extrapolation can be determined by evaluating the quality and quantity of the available data, the assumptions made, and the methods used. It is also important to consider the potential for unknown factors or variables that could affect the accuracy of the extrapolation.

5. What are the ethical considerations of using extrapolation in decision-making?

The use of extrapolation in decision-making can raise ethical concerns, as it involves making predictions and assumptions about future events or phenomena. It is important to consider the potential consequences of relying on extrapolation, as it may lead to inaccurate or biased conclusions that could have negative impacts on individuals or society as a whole.

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