科學儀器在科學知識的產生過程中起到基礎性作用。那么,它們可以被視為我們觀察大自然的窗口嗎?以顯微鏡的使用為例,科學實在論與建構經驗論關于科學儀器作用的爭論可以從下述三個方面加以系統地梳理:(1)通過顯微鏡是否看見微觀結構,(2)顯微鏡影像是否表征微觀結構,以及(3)獨立知覺是否優于輔助知覺。對建構經驗論的進一步考察表明,范·弗拉森關于可觀察性的主張不僅在認識論上得不到辯護,而且也嚴重脫離了科學實踐。根據延展認知系統觀念,科學家的知覺過程有時可以跨越其原初生物學邊界而延展至環境,整合與之緊密耦合的外部儀器手段。該進路給予我們理解科學儀器窗口隱喻的一種嶄新視角,但同時也面臨一些問題。

Scientific instruments play a fundamental role in the generation of scientific knowledge. Can they then be regarded as windows for observing nature? In the case of the use of microscopes,for example,the latest debates between scientific realism and constructive empiricism regarding scientific instruments can systematically broken down into the following three issues:( 1) whether microstructures might be seen through microscopes,( 2) whether microscopic images represent microstructures,and( 3) whether unaided perception is superior to aided perception. A further examination of constructive empiricism shows that van Fraassen’s claim about observability seriously deviates from scientific practice,and is also epistemologically unjustified.According to the concept of the extended cognitive system,a scientist’s perceptual process can sometimes extend beyond his/her original biological boundaries into the environment,incorporating external instruments with which he/she is intimately coupled. Despite facing some problems,this approach gives us a new perspective on the window metaphor for scientific instruments.