HPS100H1 Lecture 4: Lecture 4
23 Sep 2017
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Both scientific theories and methods of theory evaluation are changeable. Yes: generalism: - there can be a general theory of scientific change. No: particularism: there cannot possibly be such a thing as a general theory of explains all the transitions from one theory to the next and from one method to the next. scientific change. There is no universal and fixed method of science. This says the method is changeable: there is nothing universal in science; each historical episode is unique. This says there is nothing permanent is science. Everything is changeable. (this is a stronger argument than the first one). The details of each scientific change in the mosaic are so specific that no two changes will be explained in the same way. Changes in method of theory assessment are due to changes in set of accepted theories. Therefore, our methods evolve as we learn new things.
