Seeing for knowing: The thomas effect and computational science

From recent debates about the paper of scientific instruments and human vision, we can conclude that we don't see through our instruments, but we see with them. All our observations, perceptions and scientific data are biologically, socially, and cognitively mediated. So, there is not 'pure vision', nor 'pure objective data'. At a certain level, we can say that we have an extended epistemology, which embraces human and instrumental entities. We can make better science because we can deal better with scientific data. But at the same time, the point is not that be 'see' better, but that we only can see because we design those cognitive interfaces. Computational simulations are the middleware of our mindware, acting ad mediators between our instruments, brains, the worlds and our minds. We are contemporary Thomas, who believe what we can see. © 2010, IGI Global.