Abstract
Scientists use a variety of modes of representation in their work, but philosophers have studied mainly sentences expressing propositions. I ask whether diagrams are mere conveniences in expressing propositions or whether they are a distinct, ineliminable mode of representation in scientific texts. The case of path analysis, a statistical method for quantitatively assessing the relative degree of causal determination of variation as expressed in a causal path diagram, is discussed. Path analysis presents a worst case for arguments against eliminability since path diagrams are usually presumed to be mathematically or logically “equivalent” in an important sense to sets of linear path equations. I argue that path diagrams are strongly generative, i.e., that they add analytical power to path analysis beyond what is supplied by linear equations, and therefore that they are ineliminable in a strong scientific sense.
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I wish to thank Michael Ruse and Peter Taylor for helpful comment on the manuscript.
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Griesemer, J.R. Must scientific diagrams be eliminable? The case of path analysis. Biol Philos 6, 155–180 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02426836
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02426836