scholarly journals Symmetry, Empirical Equivalence, and Identity

2015 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 537-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Friederich
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Equivalence

scholarly journals Underdetermination, realism and empirical equivalence

Synthese ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 180 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Worrall
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Equivalence

Scientific Realism

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy D. Lyons
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Realism ◽  
Final Section ◽  
Modus Tollens ◽  
Scientific Theories ◽  
No Miracles Argument ◽  
Historical Argument ◽  
Empirical Equivalence ◽  
Socratic Scientific Realism ◽  
Epistemic Realism ◽  
Axiological Scientific Realism

This article endeavors to identify the strongest versions of the two primary arguments against epistemic scientific realism: the historical argument—generally dubbed “the pessimistic meta-induction”—and the argument from underdetermination. It is shown that, contrary to the literature, both can be understood as historically informed but logically valid modus tollens arguments. After specifying the question relevant to underdetermination and showing why empirical equivalence is unnecessary, two types of competitors to contemporary scientific theories are identified, both of which are informed by science itself. With the content and structure of the two nonrealist arguments clarified, novel relations between them are uncovered, revealing the severity of their collective threat against epistemic realism and its “no-miracles” argument. The final section proposes, however, that the realist’s axiological tenet “science seeks truth” is not blocked. An attempt is made to indicate the promise for a nonepistemic, purely axiological scientific realism—here dubbed “Socratic scientific realism.”

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