Title
Scientific progress without increasing verisimilitude : in response to Niiniluoto
Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A
Publication Date
6-1-2015
Volume
51
First Page
100
Last Page
104
Keywords
Instrumentalism, Niiniluoto, Scientific change, Scientific progress, Scientific realism, Verisimilitude
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.
DOI
10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.01.003
Print ISSN
00393681
E-ISSN
18792510
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Full-text Version
Publisher’s Version
Language
English
Recommended Citation
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. doi: 10.1016/j.shpsa.2015.01.003
