Fahrbach, Ludwig (2014) Scientific Revolutions and the Explosion of Scientific Evidence. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Scientific realism, the position that successful theories are likely to be approximately
true, is threatened by the pessimistic induction according to which the history of science is full of suc-
cessful, but false theories. I aim to defend scientific realism against the pessimistic induction. My main
thesis is that our current best theories each enjoy a very high degree of predictive success, far higher
than was enjoyed by any of the refuted theories. I support this thesis by showing that both the amount,
and quality, of scientific evidence has increased enormously in the recent past, resulting in a big boost
of success for the best theories.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Fahrbach, Ludwig ludwig.fahrbach@gmail.com
Keywords:	scientific realism, pessimistic induction, no-miracle argument, explosion of evidence
Subjects:	General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User:	Dr. Ludwig Fahrbach
Date Deposited:	27 Nov 2014 15:36
Last Modified:	27 Nov 2014 15:36
Item ID:	11170
Subjects:	General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date:	25 November 2014
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/11170

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