Description
Ian Hacking posits that the looping effect is occurring within the social sciences and it is causing scientists to change their object of study as they study it. As social scientists classify humans based on behavior, they create a new reality for humans to act under which causes the behavior that defines the classification to change. Thus, changes in the classification loop back on humans in the classification. Hacking’s argument for the looping effect takes place in several stages throughout his career. This paper looks at the history of the argument for the looping effect and then lays out an argument for the implications of the looping effect that Hacking has not given. Then an argument is given toward the limitations of the looping effect.
Identifier
Majors: Psychology, Philosophy
Forest Lake, Minnesota
PHL 491 - Senior Statement
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