257
(JCGM, 2008: 3.4.8). Under these conditions, a measurement result that explicitly
reports uncertainty is a pledge, taken by the measurer, that the result is justified.
Given this, it is, of course, no simple matter to describe the details, inside the
box, of how such justification should take place in any given instance of measurement, and it is here in which we find significant differences across disciplines. The
key activities associated with designing and using measuring instruments in the
physical and human sciences remain different, which could give the impression to a
casual observer that there can be no shared meaning of in such
diverse fields. However, a closer look reveals a common condition—the possibility
of explicit justification provided by a common structure of the process—and thus
helps clarify how the reasonableness criterion of the VIM’s definition of measurement is applicable across the sciences.
By establishing the same kind of characterization for science and measurement—both as endeavors which produce results that must be explicitly justifiable—
the strategic role of measurement in society is explained: measurement is a tool by
which the effective methods of science are adopted across the sciences and, indeed,
beyond science into the day-to-day world.
References
Atkin, A. (2013). Peirce’s theory of signs. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of
philosophy. Stanford, CA: Stanford University. Retrieved from plato.stanford.edu/entries/
peirce- semiotics
Bentley, J. P. (2005). Principles of measurement systems. Harlow: Pearson.
BIPM. (2019). The international system of units (SI) (“SI Brochure”) (9th ed.). Sèvres: International
Bureau of Weights and Measures.
Carnap, R. (1942). Introduction to semantics. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Dennett, D. (1987). The intentional stance. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Doebelin, E. (2003). Measurement systems: Application and design. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Frigerio, A., Giordani, A., & Mari, L. (2010). Outline of a general model of measurement.
Synthese, 175, 123–149.
Hansson, S. O. (2017). Science and pseudo-science. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Stanford, CA: Stanford University. Retrieved from plato.stanford.edu/
entries/pseudo- science
Hintikka, J. (1970). On semantic information. In J. Hintikka & P. Suppes (Eds.), Information and
inference (pp. 3–27). Dordrecht: Reidel.
Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM). (2008). JCGM 100:2008, Evaluation of measurement data—Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM). Sèvres: JCGM.
Retrieved from www.bipm.org/en/publications/guides/gum.html
Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM). (2012). JCGM 200:2012, International vocabulary of metrology—Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) (3rd ed.). Sèvres:
JCGM (2008 version with minor corrections). Retrieved from www.bipm.org/en/publications/
guides/vim.html
Mari, L. (2003). Epistemology of measurement. Measurement, 34, 17–30.
Mari, L. (2013). A quest for the definition of measurement. Measurement, 46, 2889–2895.
References
(JCGM, 2008: 3.4.8). Under these conditions, a measurement result that explicitly
reports uncertainty is a pledge, taken by the measurer, that the result is justified.
Given this, it is, of course, no simple matter to describe the details, inside the
box, of how such justification should take place in any given instance of measurement, and it is here in which we find significant differences across disciplines. The
key activities associated with designing and using measuring instruments in the
physical and human sciences remain different, which could give the impression to a
casual observer that there can be no shared meaning of
diverse fields. However, a closer look reveals a common condition—the possibility
of explicit justification provided by a common structure of the process—and thus
helps clarify how the reasonableness criterion of the VIM’s definition of measurement is applicable across the sciences.
By establishing the same kind of characterization for science and measurement—both as endeavors which produce results that must be explicitly justifiable—
the strategic role of measurement in society is explained: measurement is a tool by
which the effective methods of science are adopted across the sciences and, indeed,
beyond science into the day-to-day world.
References
Atkin, A. (2013). Peirce’s theory of signs. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of
philosophy. Stanford, CA: Stanford University. Retrieved from plato.stanford.edu/entries/
peirce- semiotics
Bentley, J. P. (2005). Principles of measurement systems. Harlow: Pearson.
BIPM. (2019). The international system of units (SI) (“SI Brochure”) (9th ed.). Sèvres: International
Bureau of Weights and Measures.
Carnap, R. (1942). Introduction to semantics. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Dennett, D. (1987). The intentional stance. Cambridge: MIT Press.
Doebelin, E. (2003). Measurement systems: Application and design. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Frigerio, A., Giordani, A., & Mari, L. (2010). Outline of a general model of measurement.
Synthese, 175, 123–149.
Hansson, S. O. (2017). Science and pseudo-science. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. Stanford, CA: Stanford University. Retrieved from plato.stanford.edu/
entries/pseudo- science
Hintikka, J. (1970). On semantic information. In J. Hintikka & P. Suppes (Eds.), Information and
inference (pp. 3–27). Dordrecht: Reidel.
Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM). (2008). JCGM 100:2008, Evaluation of measurement data—Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM). Sèvres: JCGM.
Retrieved from www.bipm.org/en/publications/guides/gum.html
Joint Committee for Guides in Metrology (JCGM). (2012). JCGM 200:2012, International vocabulary of metrology—Basic and general concepts and associated terms (VIM) (3rd ed.). Sèvres:
JCGM (2008 version with minor corrections). Retrieved from www.bipm.org/en/publications/
guides/vim.html
Mari, L. (2003). Epistemology of measurement. Measurement, 34, 17–30.
Mari, L. (2013). A quest for the definition of measurement. Measurement, 46, 2889–2895.
References