Quality & Quantity: Limits of Quantification in the Sciences

摘要: This thematic issue compiles a selection of papers presented at the 30th Altenberg Workshop in Theoretical Biology held KLI Klosterneuburg, Austria June 2014. The workshop was organized by Werner Callebaut, Isabella Sarto-Jackson, and Richard R. Nelson, distinguished itself its very interdisciplinary character. As title (given headline) indicates, this gathering experts from various scientific fields intended to advance understanding relations between quality quantity, limits quantification sciences. Because explicit nature effort, Callebaut envisioned topic be attractive wide range natural social sciences as well humanities. Sadly, unexpectedly died few months after workshop. authors wish dedicate it memory who inspired all individual contributions. focuses on fraught antagonisms ‘‘quantitative’’ ‘‘qualitative’’ research that abound philosophical literature–an opposition fails distinguish among aspects each those concepts, which neglects possibility many qualitative quantitative analysis are complementary rather than being oppositional. By way example, organic chemistry description molecules involves numbers but also figures verbal description. characterization is neither strictly nor elements both. These paradigms seem complement oppose other, several articles here suggest case across provides framework usefully accounts for ontological, epistemological, methodological ‘‘quality quantity’’ talk, enables constructive debate these related issues. In arguments about quantity three different issues often conflated: phenomena terms numbers; theory (articulation causal relationships) using language mathematics; methodology. A clear distinction should made use characterize or describe subject matter field deals with mathematics theorizing. While largely described quantitatively, underlying not mathematical. other mathematical models used what going whose qualitative. addition, methods, example statistical employing indicators variables connections explored, further complicate situation, because they rely instruments general capture only partially features objects under study. perceived qual/quant divide has roots diverse intellectual heritages, including Aristotelian tradition. One thinking gained particular prominence & Sarto-Jackson isabella.sarto-jackson@kli.ac.at