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

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