The analogy would be that relativity says something that demoralizes us.
Using Newtonian physics as a heuristic when solving problems doesn’t allow us to avoid that demoralizing effect. If we’d still believe that relativity is the model that is actually true, the demoralizing effect would remain.
Calling a model “true” is a category error. Models predict their relevant details of reality to the accuracy and precision necessary for the tasks to which they are appropriately applied, as best they can.
It’s well-defined enough when we talk about models of reality, so far as what “reality” is, assumed understood. It’s clearly false that speed of light is 10km/s, it’s clearly true that speed of light is not 10 km/s.
Yes, the proposition “the speed of light is 10km/s” is false. However, it is entirely possible to have a model which sets the speed of light to 10km/s (to make the math simpler, possibly), that nonetheless churns out accurate predictions.
LCPW (least convenient possible world). I obviously meant that you use a standard physical framework. Accurate predictions = true model, completely wrong predictions = false model. Simple enough.
Eh. If you want to use words that way, I suppose I can’t stop you. You could also use the word “true” to mean “valid” with respect to arguments, and I think your intention would be obvious, but I will also call that a category error.
The analogy would be that relativity says something that demoralizes us.
Using Newtonian physics as a heuristic when solving problems doesn’t allow us to avoid that demoralizing effect. If we’d still believe that relativity is the model that is actually true, the demoralizing effect would remain.
Calling a model “true” is a category error. Models predict their relevant details of reality to the accuracy and precision necessary for the tasks to which they are appropriately applied, as best they can.
It’s well-defined enough when we talk about models of reality, so far as what “reality” is, assumed understood. It’s clearly false that speed of light is 10km/s, it’s clearly true that speed of light is not 10 km/s.
Yes, the proposition “the speed of light is 10km/s” is false. However, it is entirely possible to have a model which sets the speed of light to 10km/s (to make the math simpler, possibly), that nonetheless churns out accurate predictions.
LCPW (least convenient possible world). I obviously meant that you use a standard physical framework. Accurate predictions = true model, completely wrong predictions = false model. Simple enough.
Eh. If you want to use words that way, I suppose I can’t stop you. You could also use the word “true” to mean “valid” with respect to arguments, and I think your intention would be obvious, but I will also call that a category error.