01:730:225 Study Guide - Fecundity, George Steinbrenner, Natural Science
30 Oct 2014
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In science you can have two good theories (which fit the criteria of unified, problem solving richness, etc), even though one can explain more than the other. According to thagard, one is more progressive than the other, but kitcher allows for 2 good theories (non comparative) Scientists devise ways in obtaining especially revealing evidence. They single out what we are able to see as crucial clues to the way nature works. These clues are used to answer questions that cannot be addressed by direct observation. Thus scientific theories, even those that are most respected and most successful, rest on direct arguments from the observational evidence. Contemporary science is based on extension of our perceptual senses (electron microscope), what scientists see is only seen through the microscope. ** success of contemporary science does not secure us against future amendments of the current theories we have (example: newtonian mechanics had to give way to einstein"s)
