HPS100H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Scientific Method, Superstring Theory, Fallibilism
9 Jan 2020
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History and philosophy of science lecture 4- laws of scientific. If everyone is free to choose their own method, each person would have their own theory as the best available theory by their own standard. Yes= generalism: there can be a general theory of scientific change. There can be a theory that explains all the transitions from one theory to the next and from one method to the next. No= there can be no general theory of scientific change. This is due to two reasons: there is no universal and fixed method of science. Method of science is changeable, so we cannot have any fixed theories: there is nothing universal in science. Each historical episode is unique: methods do change, however there is a certain mechanism that all transitions from one method to the next share. Drug testing 1- experimental confirmation: suppose someone comes up with a new antidepressant drug (x-antidepressant).
