How Theory-laden are Observations of Black Holes?

This abstract has open access
Abstract
In this paper, we assess the extent to which contemporary observations of black holes---particularly those of the LIGO-Virgo and Event Horizon Telescope Collaborations---are ``theory laden''. General relativistic assumptions enter into the methods of both experiments through the use of simulations of black hole spacetimes. This includes numerical relativity simulations in the case of LIGO-Virgo and general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations in the case of the Event Horizon Telescope. We argue that simulations play an ``ampliative'' role in both experiments, and that this role is problematically circular in the former case, but not the latter.
Abstract ID :
PSA2022523
Submission Type
Harvard University
University of Bonn

Abstracts With Same Type

Abstract ID
Abstract Title
Abstract Topic
Submission Type
Primary Author
PSA2022514
Philosophy of Biology - ecology
Contributed Papers
Dr. Katie Morrow
PSA2022405
Philosophy of Cognitive Science
Contributed Papers
Vincenzo Crupi
PSA2022481
Confirmation and Evidence
Contributed Papers
Dr. Matthew Joss
PSA2022440
Confirmation and Evidence
Contributed Papers
Mr. Adrià Segarra
PSA2022410
Explanation
Contributed Papers
Ms. Haomiao Yu
PSA2022504
Formal Epistemology
Contributed Papers
Dr. Veronica Vieland
PSA2022450
Decision Theory
Contributed Papers
Ms. Xin Hui Yong
PSA2022402
Formal Epistemology
Contributed Papers
Peter Lewis
124 visits