Cat, Jordi (2025) Failure in Practice and Dialectic in Theory: More Value, Context, Relativity and Plurality in Shadow Science. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In this paper I point to different features and cases of scientific inquiry that suggest the relevance of a broad pattern of negativism. I have noted the role in categories of description and more normative epistemic and methodological standards across different sciences. Finally, I have focused on causal description and reasoning and identified and examined important implications. The relational character of this dialectical pattern at work, synchronic and diachronic, and the cognitive, methodological and practical values it provides renders the picture not just plural, in a descriptive sense, but also pluralistic. This is contextual and integrated; in the case of scientific change, it is not the simple global dialectics of Popperian conjectures and refutations or Kuhnian paradigms and revolutions. The picture I provide for appreciating much scientific practice is one of contextual, synthetic pluralism that has been missed. Additional empirical examination can shed some light on the details of specific cases and their various forms of contributing to scientific change without substituting for a contextual account a monolithic Hegelian caricature.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Cat, Jordi jrecat@gmail.com 0000-0001-5124-7909
Additional Information:	FORTHCOMING in A. Karakas and A. Tuboly, eds., Scientific Mistakes and Mistaken Science: Malfunction, Error, Failure
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism General Issues > Experimentation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User:	Prof. Jordi Cat
Date Deposited:	10 Jun 2026 12:30
Last Modified:	10 Jun 2026 12:30
Item ID:	30033
Subjects:	General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism General Issues > Experimentation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Values In Science
Date:	October 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/30033

Available Versions of this Item

• Failure in Practice and Dialectic in Theory: More Value, Context, Relativity and Plurality in Science. (deposited 02 Nov 2025 12:15)
  • Failure in Practice and Dialectic in Theory: More Value, Context, Relativity and Plurality in Shadow Science. (deposited 10 Jun 2026 12:30) [Currently Displayed]

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