Duhem and holism / Milena Ivanova.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ivanova, Milena, author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in the philosophy of science, 2517-7273.

Cambridge elements. Elements in the philosophy of science, 2517-7273

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Duhem, Pierre Maurice Marie, 1861-1916.

Duhem, Pierre Maurice Marie.

Science--Philosophy.

Science.

Holism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (60 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2021.

Summary:

The holistic thesis developed by Pierre Duhem challenges the idea that our evidence can conclusively falsify a theory. Given that no scientific theory is tested in isolation, a negative experiment can always be attributed to components other than the theory we test - to the auxiliary hypotheses and background assumptions. How do scientists decide whether the experimental result undermines the theory or points at an error in the underlying assumptions? Duhem argues that we cannot offer a rule that directs when the scientist should employ a radical or conservative strategy in light of a negative result, and ultimately they will appeal to their intuition. More recently philosophers have offered a number of strategies of how to locate error and justify the abandonment of a theory or an auxiliary hypothesis. This Element analyses Duhem's response to holism and subsequent accounts of how the problem can be resolved.

Contents:

1 Introduction

2 Scientific Aims, Methods and the Holistic Nature of Theory Testing

2.1 The Aim of Science: Explanation or Representation?

2.2 Natural Classification

2.3 The Scientific Method and the Role of Experiment

2.4 Holism in Theory Testing: The Problem

3 Holism, Underdetermination and Good Sense

3.1 The Problem of Underdetermination of Theory by the Evidence

3.2 Non-empirical Factors in Theory Choice

3.3 'Good Sense Is the Judge of Hypotheses Which Ought to Be Abandoned'

3.3.1 What Are the Properties of Good Sense?

3.3.2 Interpreting Good Sense and Its Function

4 Solutions to Duhem's Problem: Diagnosing Error

4.1 Dorling's Bayesian Solution

4.2 Darden's Solution

4.3 Mayo's Error Statistics Solution

4.4 Holism and Inference to the Best Explanation

5 Conclusion.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 26 Jul 2021).

Includes bibliographical references (pages 54-60).

ISBN:

1009020145

100902034X

9781009020343

1009004654

9781009004657

OCLC:

1261264784