Origins
The structuralist view of theories (svt) is a systematic development of Suppes' view of theories, grounded in his representation of them by means of axiomati- zations via the definition of a set-theoretical predicate.
This representation - which is called extrinsic - is also necessary for the task of providing an intrinsic characterization of the models of a first-order theory by means of axioms belonging to a strictly formalized language. An extrinsic characterization of the models of a scientific theory consists of describing its models in a precise and complete way, within the informal language of set theory. This is tantamount to an informal characterization of its logical structure as a previous step to the formulation of axioms within a formalized language.1The development, started by Joseph D. Sneed (1971), is architectonic and systematic. It provides a map of scientific theories and their interrelationships, history, and applications. Outstanding is its conception of theoretical terms, as relative to a given theory T (Ò-theoretical). The present book makes use of svt in order to provide systematic reconstructions of economic theories. After discussing the basic, intuitive ideas of svt through a clear, simple, and realistic example drawn from physics, in dialogue with the prevalent (statement) view, this chapter motivates the introduction of the concepts of svt in an intuitive way. The discussion of the objections raised against it by noted methodologists of economics will have to wait until the doctrine of idealization is introduced.
3.2