<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>This paper examines the <italic>experimentum crucis</italic> under the light of the Duhem’s holistic thesis. This methodological instrument is not usable in physics, because physical theories are always logically connected to many assumptions. On the contrary, it is usable in psychological research oriented to perceptual laws, when these laws are, without any hypothetical term, isolated systems. An application of <italic>experimentum crucis</italic> in Experimental Phenomenology of perception is presented. In conclusion, the role of perceptual knowledge as an essential assumption in other scientific disciplines that have a high degree of theoricity is also underlined.</p></abstract>

This paper examines the experimentum crucis under the light of the Duhem’s holistic thesis. This methodological instrument is not usable in physics, because physical theories are always logically connected to many assumptions. On the contrary, it is usable in psychological research oriented to perceptual laws, when these laws are, without any hypothetical term, isolated systems. An application of experimentum crucis in Experimental Phenomenology of perception is presented. In conclusion, the role of perceptual knowledge as an essential assumption in other scientific disciplines that have a high degree of theoricity is also underlined.

Why <italic>Experimentum Crucis</italic> is Possible in Psychology of Perception

Department of Design and Planning for Complex Environments

Gestalt Theory

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Why  is Possible in Psychology of Perception

This paper examines the experimentum crucis under the light of the Duhem’s holistic thesis. This methodological instrument is not usable in physics, because...

Why Experimentum Crucis is Possible in Psychology of Perception

Published Online: Apr 11, 2018

Page range: 45 - 57

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2018-0003

Keywords
Duhem’s thesis, psychology of perception, Experimental Phenomenology, perceptual laws

© 2018 Michele Sinico, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Why Experimentum Crucis is Possible in Psychology of Perception

Published Online: Apr 11, 2018

Page range: 45 - 57

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/gth-2018-0003

KeywordsDuhem’s thesis, psychology of perception, Experimental Phenomenology, perceptual laws

© 2018 Michele Sinico, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Duhem’s thesis, psychology of perception, Experimental Phenomenology, perceptual laws