Acuña, Pablo and Dieks, Dennis (2013) Another Look at Empirical Equivalence and Underdetermination of Theory Choice. [Preprint]
![[img]](https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/fileicons/application_pdf.png)
|
PDF
Another_Look_at_Empirical_Equivalence_and_Underdetermination_of_Theory_Choice.pdf - Submitted Version Download (604kB) |
Abstract
In 1991 Larry Laudan and Jarret Leplin proposed a solution for the problem of predictive equivalence and empirical underdetermination. In this paper we claim that, even though Laudan and Leplin’s reasoning is essentially correct, their solution of the underdetermination problem must be accurately assessed in order to appreciate its nature and scope. We argue that Laudan and Leplin’s analysis does not refute the problem (as they claim). Instead, what they show is merely that science possesses tools that may eventually lead out of an underdetermination impasse. We apply their argument to a real case of two empirically equivalent theories: Lorentz’s ether theory and Einstein’s special relativity. We argue that this example shows that the core of Laudan and Leplin’s proposal works, but also that the reassessment we argue for is correct and necessary. We conclude that empirical equivalence and underdetermination are ordinary scientific problems rather than problems that should be solved by epistemology.
| Export/Citation: | EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL |
| Social Networking: |
| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creators: |
|
|||||||||
| Keywords: | Empirical equivalence, underdetermination, theory choice, non-empirical virtues, empirical evidence, confirmation, special relativity, Hendrik Lorentz. | |||||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Science Case Studies Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory |
|||||||||
| Depositing User: | Mr. Pablo Acuña | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 16 Jul 2013 07:40 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 16 Jul 2013 07:40 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 9883 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Science Case Studies Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory |
|||||||||
| Date: | April 2013 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/9883 |
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}