Publication Details

Abstract

This paper is a survey of classical and contemporary approaches to abstraction and idealization in the philosophy of science. In this second part, it focuses on the more recent contributions by Martin Jones, Michael Weisberg and Michael Strevens. The final section is devoted to the problem of so-called non-Galilean idealization or idealization without successful representation, as discussed by Andrew Wayne, Yasha Rohwer, Collin Rice and Alisa Bokulich. By way of conclusion, the paper elaborates on the preliminary characterization of the two methods provided in the first part, and offers some more general observations on the development of the discussion since the 1970s.