Imagination and Understanding through Astrophysical Imagery
arXiv:2505.08340 · doi:10.1162/posc_a_00642
Abstract
Scientific articles, for instance in the field of astrophysics, are often filled with a variety of images. In philosophical studies, these images are usually analyzed in terms of their function within the scientific argument presented in the article. However, not all images that can be found in astrophysical articles are relevant to the scientific argument, which prompts the question of why they are included in the first place. Using the example of the so-called Stellar Graveyard plot, I argue that the work of Letitia Meynell provides a valuable description of this kind of imagery. That is, there are images used in astrophysical literature that may not be necessary for the scientific argument, but function as an aide for the visual imagination of the reader. These kinds of aides can help with mentally visualizing certain spatial configurations and the causal relationships within them, ultimately furthering understanding of the discussed astrophysical concepts or models.
arXiv commentFinal version accepted for publication in Perspectives on Science
References in corpus (25)
- Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Black Hole Merger
- First Sagittarius A* Event Horizon Telescope Results. I. The Shadow of the Supermassive Black Hole in the Center of the Milky Way
- Formation of Double Neutron Star Systems
- Pulsational pair instability as an explanation for the most luminous supernovae
- Merging binary black holes formed through chemically homogeneous evolution in short-period stellar binaries
- On the formation history of Galactic double neutron stars
- Conditions for Shock Revival by Neutrino Heating in Core-Collapse Supernovae
- JWST detection of heavy neutron capture elements in a compact object merger
- Pulsational pair-instability supernovae in very close binaries
- Energetic eruptions leading to a peculiar hydrogen-rich explosion of a massive star
- No peaks without valleys: The stable mass transfer channel for gravitational-wave sources in light of the neutron star-black hole mass gap
- Music from the heavens - Gravitational waves from supermassive black hole mergers in the EAGLE simulations
- Bimodal black-hole mass distribution and chirp masses of binary black-hole mergers
- The fate of the Antennae galaxies
- An Integral Condition for Core-Collapse Supernova Explosions
- Post-Newtonian templates for gravitational waves from compact binary inspirals
- GRMHD study of accreting massive black hole binaries in astrophysical environment: a review
- Deceleration of kicked objects due to the Galactic potential
- Kinematic constraints on the ages and kick velocities of Galactic neutron star binaries
- Evolution of Supernova Remnants near the Galactic Center
- Failed supernovae as a natural explanation for the binary black hole mass distribution
- BH-BH mergers with & without EM counterpart: A model for stable tertiary mass transfer in hierarchical triple systems
- No evidence for a dip in the binary black hole mass spectrum
- Detecting Stripped Stars While Searching for Quiescent Black Holes
- A uniform stellar origin for binary black holes revealed by lensing