Stebbing on Clarity

This chapter explores some neglected aspects of Susan Stebbing’s contributions to analysis, namely, what Stebbing calls the “analytic clarification of a concept.” Stebbing introduces this idea to address cases where a scientific theory requires significant revision after a paradigm change. Using Einstein’s treatment of simultaneity as an example, Schliesser explains that Stebbing’s analytic clarification is an effect of scientific development, with clarity emerging as a product of scientific growth. This kind of clarification not only impacts the scientific image but gradually shifts the manifest image, influencing common sense. Schliesser also introduces the concept of “democratic clarity,” highlighting Stebbing’s advocacy for clear thinking in political contexts.