Barrett, Jeffrey A. (2008) Approximate Truth and Descriptive Nesting. [Preprint]

Preview

Text Approximate truth and descriptive nesting preprint draft philsci.pdf Download (403kB) | Preview

Abstract

There is good reason to suppose that our best physical theories, quantum mechanics and special relativity, are false if taken together and literally. If they are in fact false, then how should they count as providing knowledge of the physical world? One might imagine that, while strictly false, our best physical theories are nevertheless in some sense probably approximately true. This paper presents a notion of local probable approximate truth in terms of descriptive nesting relations between current and subsequent theories. This notion helps explain how false physical theories might nevertheless provide physical knowledge of a variety that is particularly salient to diachronic empirical inquiry.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Barrett, Jeffrey A. j.barrett@uci.edu
Keywords:	truth, approximate truth, scientific progress, pragmatism
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Jeffrey Barrett
Date Deposited:	19 Mar 2023 13:55
Last Modified:	19 Mar 2023 13:55
Item ID:	21891
DOI or Unique Handle:	10.1007/s10670-007-9086-6
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics Specific Sciences > Physics > Relativity Theory General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	2008
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21891

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Altmetric.com

Actions (login required)

View Item