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Rational theory choice: Arrow undermined, Kuhn vindicated

Bradley, Seamus (2013) Rational theory choice: Arrow undermined, Kuhn vindicated. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In a recent paper, Samir Okasha presented an argument that suggests that there is no rational way to choose among scientific theories. This would seriously undermine the view that science is a rational entreprise. In this paper I show how a suitably nuanced view of what scientific rationality requires allows us to avoid Okasha’s conclusion. I go on to argue that making further assumptions about the space of possible scientific theories allows us to make scientific rationality more contentful. I then show how such a view of scientific rationality fits with what Thomas Kuhn thought.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Bradley, SeamusSeamus.Bradley@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Keywords: theory choice, scientific rationality, arrows theorem
Subjects: General Issues > Theory Change
General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User: Dr. Seamus Bradley
Date Deposited: 02 Dec 2013 19:53
Last Modified: 02 Dec 2013 19:53
Item ID: 10112
Subjects: General Issues > Theory Change
General Issues > Values In Science
Date: 1 December 2013
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/10112

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