Philosophy 2700F/G Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Globalism, Paul Feyerabend, Social Fact
26 Oct 2018
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In agreement with van fraassen: theories should be interpreted literally, observable/unobservable distinction is distinct from the theoretical/non-theoretical one, all observation sentences are laden with theory. In disagreement with realists: beliefs do not have to be at least roughly true, unlikely science will eventually encompass only true statements, terms of science do not necessarily refer to real things. Observational concepts are theory laden so soundness of concepts depend on soundness of theories that embed them. Observational ontology is just as dubious as the non- observational one. Empirical success of a theory remains a reason for thinking the theory is true. Objection to van fraassen: unobservables are placed at a selective disadvantage. Van fraassen measures truth through empirical adequacy: theory is true if and only if everything it says about observable things is true. Problem with empirical adequacy: hume under- determinism by evidence. Problem with the unobservable (spatially or temporally distant from our sensory apparatus) is the same: under- determined hypotheses.
