Thought experiment
purpose
logical thinking, speculation, change paradigm
pushes outside comfort zone
we may not know everything
humans like amphibian
factual domains, investigate through observations
imaginative domain, explore thoughts through reasoning
what?
draw instructions from hypothetical reasoning
consequences of the process
contrary to original hypothesis
can be proven as true or false
starts from reasoning on an assumed hypothesis - can be true or flase
but done to conclude the hypothesis or resolving a conflict
how it works?
makes use of narrative and analogies
condense first principles into more accessible and understand throught reflectionand analysis
some do empirical evidence, for alternate perspective view
benefits
thought experiments are not aimless rumination
thought experiments have structure
challenge intellectual norms, look beyond facts, comprehend history, make logical decision, foster innovative idea, widen sphere of reference
Mach on thought experiment
as babies we start doing thought exp - identify cause and effect
once we attain mature, we stop doing this
two types of experiment - thought and physical
when we reach limit of physical experiment, resort to thought experiment
thought experiments are structure manifestation of our curiousity of the world
precursor to physical experiments
whatever you do physically, it should have been thought throught and planned
method is similar to physical experience
method of variation
vary circumstances and observe range of validity of idea
Types
prefactual - potential outcome deduction
counterfactual - contradict known facts
if Y happened instead of X, what will happen?
what will X cause happen?
semifactual
how different past would cause the same present
if Y happened instaed of X, would outcome be same?