Perspectival Instruments

Abstract Despite its potential implications for the objectivity of scientific knowledge, claim that “scientific instruments are perspectival” has received little critical attention. I show this is best understood as highlighting dependence on different perspectives. When closely analyzed, instead constituting a novel epistemic challenge, can be exploited to mount strategies resolving two old problems: conceptual relativism and theory-ladeness. The content article consists in articulating developing these by introducing fine-grained notions perspectives key units analysis: “broad perspectives” “narrow perspectives.”