HPS100H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Fallibilism, Formal Science
7 Apr 2016
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Two classes of elements that can undergo scientific change. Any element of the mosaic of accepted theories and employed methods remains in the mosaic except insofar as it is overthrown by another element or elements. Does(cid:374)"t specify what ki(cid:374)d of theories ca(cid:374) replace a(cid:374) accepted theory. Empirical evidence against an accepted theory might not be enough. Not a universal feature though i. e. formal science. Anomalies only play a role in theory acceptance/rejection when they happen to confirm some novel predictions of an alternative theory. Does(cid:374)"t i(cid:373)pose a(cid:374)y li(cid:373)itatio(cid:374)s o(cid:374) the sort of (cid:373)ethods that ca(cid:374) replace the e(cid:373)ployed (cid:373)ethod. Could revert to abstract methods or introduce new requirements. An element of the mosaic is never given up for nothing. Theories become accepted only when they satisfy the requirements of the modes actually employed at the time i. e. meet the implicit expectation of the scientific community. A set of implicit criteria employed in theory assessment.
