# Archimedean point

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{{Short description|Hypothetical "God's-eye view" of the world}}
{{Epistemology sidebar}}
An '''Archimedean point''' ({{Langx|la|'''Punctum Archimedis'''}}) is a hypothetical [viewpoint](/source/Point_of_view_(philosophy)) from which certain [objective truth](/source/objective_truth)s can perfectly be [perceive](/source/perceive)d (also known as a '''God's-eye view''') or a reliable starting point from which one may reason. In other words, a view from an Archimedean point describes the ideal of removing oneself from the [object of study](/source/Unit_of_observation) so that one can see it in relation to all other things while remaining independent of them.<ref>[Blackburn, Simon](/source/Simon_Blackburn), ed. [2008] 2016. "[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095422175 Archimedean Point]" ([quick reference](/source/quick_reference)). ''[The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy](/source/The_Oxford_Dictionary_of_Philosophy)'' (2nd rev. ed.). e<nowiki/>{{ISBN|9780191727726}}. [Oxford Reference](/source/Oxford_Reference). Retrieved 18 June 2020.</ref>

For example, the [philosopher](/source/philosopher) [John Rawls](/source/John_Rawls) uses the [heuristic](/source/heuristic) device of the [original position](/source/original_position) in an attempt to remove the particular [biases](/source/biases) of individual [agents](/source/agency_(philosophy)) to demonstrate how [rational beings](/source/Rational_Choice_Theory) might arrive at an objective formulation of [justice](/source/justice).<ref>[Bell, Daniel](/source/Daniel_Bell). [2001] 2020."[http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/communitarianism/#UniVerPar Communitarianism]" (revised ed.). ''[Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy](/source/Stanford_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy)''. Retrieved 18 June 2020.</ref>

== Origins ==
thumb|''Archimedes lever'', engraving from ''Mechanics Magazine'', London 1824
The term refers to the great mathematician [Archimedes](/source/Archimedes), who supposedly claimed that he could lift the [Earth](/source/Earth) off its foundation if he were given a place to stand, one solid point, and a long enough lever.

The idea for the term is attributed to [Descartes](/source/Ren%C3%A9_Descartes) in his [second ''Meditation''](/source/Meditations_on_First_Philosophy), who refers to Archimedes requiring only "a point that was firm and immovable," with regard to finding [certainty](/source/certainty):<ref>{{cite web | title = Quotations about Archimedes Lever | url = http://www.math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/Lever/LeverQuotes.html | accessdate = 2009-01-23| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090126130558/http://www.math.nyu.edu/~crorres/Archimedes/Lever/LeverQuotes.html| archivedate= 26 January 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><blockquote>Archimedes, that he might transport the entire globe from the place it occupied to another, demanded only a point that was firm and immovable; so, also, I shall be entitled to entertain the highest expectations, if I am fortunate enough to discover only one thing that is certain and indubitable.<ref>[Manley, David B.](/source/David_Manley_(philosopher)), and Charles S. Taylor, ed. [1996] 2005. “[http://www.wright.edu/~charles.taylor/descartes/meditation2.html Meditations II].” ''Descartes' ‘Meditations’'' (HTML ed.), translated by [J. Veitch](/source/John_Veitch_(poet)) (1901). Dayton, OH: [Wright State University](/source/Wright_State_University), College of Liberal Arts.</ref></blockquote>

== Criticism ==
[Sceptical](/source/Sceptical) and [anti-realist](/source/anti-realist) philosophers criticise the possibility of an Archimedean point, claiming that "such an alleged standpoint is merely fantastical" and that the alleged objectivity of the view is mythical.<ref>[http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095422175 Archimedean Point]. [Oxford Reference - Oxford University Press](/source/Oxford_Reference_-_Oxford_University_Press). Retrieved 18 April 2014.</ref>

==See also==
* [Bird's-eye view](/source/Bird's-eye_view)
* [Observer effect (physics)](/source/Observer_effect_(physics))
* [Objectivity (philosophy)](/source/Objectivity_(philosophy))
* [Objectivity (science)](/source/Objectivity_(science))
* [The Aleph (short story)](/source/The_Aleph_(short_story))

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{wikiquote}}

Category:History of physics
Category:Concepts in the philosophy of science
Category:Concepts in epistemology

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Archimedean point](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedean_point) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimedean_point?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.