Abstract

Presents a new analysis of the structure of scientific theories by turning the traditionally logical-epistemological problem into the problem of the explanation of various social uses of theories. The thesis addresses what semantic structures determine the meaning of the terms of scientific theories, and how they do it. The author's reconstruction of interpretation is based on the semantic distinction between formal theories and informal theories. Distributed by ISBS. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR.