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An Archimedean point (Latin: Punctum Archimedis) is a hypothetical viewpoint from which certain objective truths can perfectly be perceived (also known as a God's-eye view) or a reliable starting point from which one may reason. In other words, a view from an Archimedean point describes the ideal of removing oneself from the object of study so that one can see it in relation to all other things while remaining independent of them.^[1]

For example, the philosopher John Rawls uses the heuristic device of the original position in an attempt to remove the particular biases of individual agents to demonstrate how rational beings might arrive at an objective formulation of justice.^[2]

Origins

The term refers to the great mathematician Archimedes, who supposedly claimed that he could lift the Earth off its foundation if he were given a place to stand, one solid point, and a long enough lever.

The idea for the term is attributed to Descartes in his second Meditation, who refers to Archimedes requiring only "a point that was firm and immovable," with regard to finding certainty:^[3]

Archimedes, that he might transport the entire globe from the place it occupied to another, demanded only a point that was firm and immovable; so, also, I shall be entitled to entertain the highest expectations, if I am fortunate enough to discover only one thing that is certain and indubitable.^[4]

Criticism

Sceptical and anti-realist philosophers criticise the possibility of an Archimedean point, claiming it is a form of scientism.^[5]

References

^ Blackburn, Simon, ed. [2008] 2016. "Archimedean Point" (quick reference). The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2nd rev. ed.). eISBN 9780191727726. Oxford Reference. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
^ Bell, Daniel. [2001] 2020."Communitarianism" (revised ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
^ "Quotations about Archimedes Lever". Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
^ Manley, David B., and Charles S. Taylor, ed. [1996] 2005. “Meditations II.” Descartes' ‘Meditations’ (HTML ed.), translated by J. Veitch (1901). Dayton, OH: Wright State University, College of Liberal Arts.
^ Archimedean Point. Oxford Reference - Oxford University Press. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

External links

[1] Blackburn, Simon, ed. [2008] 2016. "Archimedean Point" (quick reference). The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy (2nd rev. ed.). eISBN 9780191727726. Oxford Reference. Retrieved 18 June 2020.

[2] Bell, Daniel. [2001] 2020."Communitarianism" (revised ed.). Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved 18 June 2020.

[3] "Quotations about Archimedes Lever". Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-23.

[4] Manley, David B., and Charles S. Taylor, ed. [1996] 2005. “Meditations II.” Descartes' ‘Meditations’ (HTML ed.), translated by J. Veitch (1901). Dayton, OH: Wright State University, College of Liberal Arts.

[5] Archimedean Point. Oxford Reference - Oxford University Press. Retrieved 18 April 2014.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|A hypothetical "God's-eye view" of the world}}
 {{Epistemology sidebar}}
-An '''Archimedean point''' ({{Lang-la|'''Punctum Archimedis'''}}) is a hypothetical [[Point of view (philosophy)|viewpoint]] from which certain [[objective truth]]s can perfectly be [[perceive]]d (also known as a '''God's-eye view''') or a reliable starting point from which one may reason. In other words, a view from an Archimedean point describes the ideal of removing oneself from the [[Unit of observation|object of study]] so that one can see it in relation to all other things while remaining independent of them.<ref>[[Simon Blackburn|Blackburn, Simon]], ed. [2008] 2016. "[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095422175 Archimedean Point]" ([[quick reference]]). ''[[The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy]]'' (2nd rev. ed.). e<nowiki/>{{ISBN|9780191727726}}. [[Oxford Reference]]. Retrieved 18 June 2020.</ref>
+An '''Archimedean point''' ({{Langx|la|'''Punctum Archimedis'''}}) is a hypothetical [[Point of view (philosophy)|viewpoint]] from which certain [[objective truth]]s can perfectly be [[perceive]]d (also known as a '''God's-eye view''') or a reliable starting point from which one may reason. In other words, a view from an Archimedean point describes the ideal of removing oneself from the [[Unit of observation|object of study]] so that one can see it in relation to all other things while remaining independent of them.<ref>[[Simon Blackburn|Blackburn, Simon]], ed. [2008] 2016. "[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095422175 Archimedean Point]" ([[quick reference]]). ''[[The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy]]'' (2nd rev. ed.). e<nowiki/>{{ISBN|9780191727726}}. [[Oxford Reference]]. Retrieved 18 June 2020.</ref>
-For example, the [[philosopher]] [[John Rawls]] uses the [[heuristic]] device of the [[original position]] in an attempt to remove the particular [[biases]] of individual [[agency (philosophy)|agents]] to demonstrate how [[Rational Choice Theory|rational beings]] might arrive at an objective formulation of [[justice]].<ref>[[Daniel Bell|Bell, Daniel]]. [2001] 2020."[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/communitarianism/#UniVerPar Communitarianism]" (revised ed.). ''[[Stanford Encyclopaedia of Philosophy]]''. Retrieved 18 June 2020.</ref>
+For example, the [[philosopher]] [[John Rawls]] uses the [[heuristic]] device of the [[original position]] in an attempt to remove the particular [[biases]] of individual [[agency (philosophy)|agents]] to demonstrate how [[Rational Choice Theory|rational beings]] might arrive at an objective formulation of [[justice]].<ref>[[Daniel Bell|Bell, Daniel]]. [2001] 2020."[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/communitarianism/#UniVerPar Communitarianism]" (revised ed.). ''[[Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]]''. Retrieved 18 June 2020.</ref>
 == Origins ==
+[[File:Archimedes lever.png|thumb|''Archimedes lever'', engraving from ''Mechanics Magazine'', London 1824]]
 The term refers to the great mathematician [[Archimedes]], who supposedly claimed that he could lift the [[Earth]] off its foundation if he were given a place to stand, one solid point, and a long enough lever.
@@ Line 11: / Line 12: @@
 == Criticism ==
-[[Sceptical]] and [[anti-realist]] philosophers criticise the possibility of an Archimedean point, claiming it is a form of [[scientism]].<ref>[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095422175 Archimedean Point]. [[Oxford Reference - Oxford University Press]]. Retrieved 18 April 2014.</ref> For example, according to [[Michael Shermer]]: "We can no more separate our theories and concepts from our data and percepts than we can find a true Archimedean point—a god’s-eye view—of ourselves and our world."<ref>[[Michael Shermer|Shermer, Michael]]. 1 October 2007. "[https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-really-hard-science/ The Really Hard Science]." ''[[Scientific American]]''. Retrieved 18 June 2020.</ref>
+[[Sceptical]] and [[anti-realist]] philosophers criticise the possibility of an Archimedean point, claiming it is a form of [[scientism]].<ref>[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095422175 Archimedean Point]. [[Oxford Reference - Oxford University Press]]. Retrieved 18 April 2014.</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 27: / Line 28: @@
 [[Category:History of physics]]
 [[Category:Concepts in the philosophy of science]]
-{{physics-stub}}