Scientific progress without increasing verisimilitude : in response to Niiniluoto

Darrell Patrick ROWBOTTOM

doi:10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.01.003

Scientific progress without increasing verisimilitude : in response to Niiniluoto

Darrell Patrick ROWBOTTOM

Department of Philosophy

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed)

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

First, I argue that scientific progress is possible in the absence of increasing verisimilitude in science's theories. Second, I argue that increasing theoretical verisimilitude is not the central, or primary, dimension of scientific progress. Third, I defend my previous argument that unjustified changes in scientific belief may be progressive. Fourth, I illustrate how false beliefs can promote scientific progress in ways that cannot be explicated by appeal to verisimilitude.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	100-104
Number of pages	5
Journal	Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
Volume	51
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.01.003
Publication status	Published - 1 Jun 2015

Keywords

Instrumentalism
Niiniluoto
Scientific change
Scientific progress
Scientific realism
Verisimilitude

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10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.01.003

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Research Output

14 Scopus Citations
1 Book (Author)

The instrument of science : scientific anti-realism revitalised

ROWBOTTOM, D. P., 18 Mar 2019, Taylor and Francis. 215 p. (Routledge Studies in the Philosophy of Science)

Research output: Scholarly Books | Reports | Literary Works › Book (Author)

3 Citations (Scopus)

Cite this

ROWBOTTOM, D. P. (2015). Scientific progress without increasing verisimilitude : in response to Niiniluoto. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A, 51, 100-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.01.003

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