Definition
Scientific instruments bring us closer to reality not by giving direct perception, but by embedding better explanatory corrections between appearance and interpretation.
Why It Matters
We rely on complex instruments (like telescopes or AI models) to observe reality, but those instruments are built on theories themselves. This ‘mediation’ creates a layer of abstraction that we must account for to avoid mistaking instrument error for a new physical law.
Core Concepts
- No direct observation: Even unaided perception is mediated by biological and theoretical processing.
- Instruments are explanatory devices: Telescopes, microscopes, and detectors work because theories explain how their outputs relate to reality.
- Correction increases contact: More mediation can mean better access when each layer corrects known distortions.
- Reality outruns intuition: The world revealed by good instruments is often less familiar but more real.