HPS250H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Fallibilism, Formal Science
17 Apr 2016
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Hps250 lecture 11 notes a theory of scientific change. Methods and values are reformations of the same thing: ex. demonstrative truth (value) = accept demonstratively true theories (method) Laudan"s explanation of the reticulate model focuses on methodology and not methods, but we want methods (this is found by his last point) Scientific mosaic = a set of all accepted theories and employed methods. Scientific change is transition from one accepted theory to another or from one employed method to another. Acceptance: theory is accepted if taken as best available description of its object. Use: theory is used if its adequate tool for practical application. Pursuit: theory is pursued if it is considered worthy of further development. Is possible to accept a theory, use another, and pursue another at the same time. Accept general relativity and quantum physics, but still use classical physics, and pursue superstring theory. Two incompatible theories can be pursued at same time,
