Experimental matters of fact

Thus, truth is a matter of agreement over the experimental matter of fact. Shapin and Schaffer point out the distinction between matter of fact and the ultimate physical causes and explanations. It is not clear on what grounds Boyle distinguished between the two categories. Shapin and Schaffer state ... 

It is possible to extricate a sophisticated philosophy of experiment from Boyle s various utterances on the topic. Experimental matters of fact are established as such to the extent that they are supported by a range of independent evidence, analogous to the way in which a claim can be established by evidence from independent witnesses in a court of law. Possible sources of error need to be identified and eliminated. For instance, a common somce of error in chemical experiments is impurities in the reacting chemicals. Reagents need to be purified and their purity tested for, preferably in a number of different ways. Reports of experiments need to be sufficiently clear to allow repetition by others. 

---