HPS100H1 Lecture 3: HPS100 Lecture 3
19 Jan 2016
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Intro: while in formal science, infallible knowledge is achievable all empirical knowledge is inevitably fallible because sensations, induction and theory-ladeneness. While all theories in empirical science are fallible, we still believe that some theories are better than others. That"s the reason we don"t teach aristotelian physics, How do we decide which theories should be accepted. Acceptance: a theory is said to be accepted if it is taken as the best available description of its object (something physical, social or formal. There is some object a theory tries to describe. Two incompatible theories can be simultaneously used and pursued, but cannot be accepted. Only one of the alternatives can be accepted at a time. How do we choose which theory is best available description of it"s object: we need a method of appraisal to determine which theory is better in light of the available evidence.
