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Representation at the Nanoscale

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2022

Otávio Bueno
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Abstract

In this paper, I provide an account of scientific representation that makes sense of the notion both at the nanoscale and at the quantum level: the partial mappings account. The account offers an extension of a proposal developed by R. I. G. Hughes in terms of denotation, demonstration, and interpretation (DDI). I first argue that the DDI account needs some amendments to accommodate representation of nano and quantum phenomena. I then introduce a generalized framework with the notions of unsharp denotation, unsharp interpretation, and partial mappings. I conclude by arguing that the resulting view not only accommodates nano and quantum representations but also makes sense of representation by imaging in (scanning tunneling) microscopy.

Type
Simulation, Instrumentation, and Representation at the Nanoscale
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 73 , Issue 5: Proceedings of the 2004 Biennial Meeting of The Philosophy of Science Association. Part II: Symposia Papers. Edited by Miriam Solomon , December 2006 , pp. 617 - 628
Copyright
Copyright © The Philosophy of Science Association

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Footnotes

‡

My thanks go to Davis Baird, John Christie, Steven French, R. I. G. Hughes, Cathy Murphy, Alfred Nordmann, Chris Robinson, Joachim Schummer, and Scott Shalkowski for extremely helpful discussions. The material is based upon work supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation, NSF 01-157, NIRT.

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