Bakshi, Kabir S. (2025) Aimless Progress and the Myth of the Constitution-Promotion Distinction. [Preprint]

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Abstract

A central question in philosophy of science and epistemology of science concerns the characterization of the progress of science. Many philosophers of science and epistemologists have developed accounts of scientific progress, laying down desiderata for and providing success criteria of any account of scientific progress. Extant accounts of scientific progress are surveyed and critically assessed and it is shown that all face the same problem. The constitution-promotion distinction – a commitment shared by all the accounts – is identified as the root of the problem for the extant accounts. In their place, a novel way of understanding scientific progress – inspired by pragmatic philosophy of science and zetetic epistemology – which rejects the problematic constitution-promotion distinction, and importantly, which provides a vision of scientific progress without depending on the aim of science is developed.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Bakshi, Kabir S. kabir.bakshi@pitt.edu
Keywords:	scientific progress, epistemology of science, pragmatic philosophy of science
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Social Epistemology of Science General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Kabir Bakshi
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2025 13:46
Last Modified:	17 Feb 2025 13:46
Item ID:	24761
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Social Epistemology of Science General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	February 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24761

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• Aimless Progress and the Myth of the Constitution-Promotion Distinction. (deposited 16 Feb 2025 13:36)
  • Aimless Progress and the Myth of the Constitution-Promotion Distinction. (deposited 17 Feb 2025 13:46) [Currently Displayed]

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