Empirical equivalence, explanatory force, and the inference to the best theory

Poznan Studies in the Philosophy of the Sciences and the Humanities 83 (1):281-309 (2005)
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Abstract

In this paper I discuss the rule of inference proposed by Kuipers under the name of Inference to the Best Theory. In particular, I argue that the rule needs to be strengthened if it is to serve realist purposes. I further describe a method for testing, and perhaps eventually justifying, a suitably strengthened version of it.

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Igor Douven
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

Citations of this work

Theory Status, Inductive Realism, and Approximate Truth: No Miracles, No Charades.Shelby D. Hunt - 2011 - International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 25 (2):159 - 178.

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References found in this work

The Scientific Image.William Demopoulos & Bas C. van Fraassen - 1982 - Philosophical Review 91 (4):603.
Realism and truth.Michael Devitt - 1991 - Cambridge, Mass., USA: Blackwell.
A novel defense of scientific realism.Jarrett Leplin - 1997 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Critical scientific realism.Ilkka Niiniluoto - 1999 - New York: Oxford University Press.

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