Werndl, Charlotte (2011) On Choosing Between Deterministic and Indeterministic Models: Underdetermination and Indirect Evidence. [Preprint]

Preview

PDF DraftSyntheseArticle.pdf - Submitted Version Download (691kB)

Abstract

There are results which show that measure-theoretic deterministic models and stochastic models are observationally equivalent. Thus there is a choice between a deterministic and an indeterministic model and the question arises: Which model is preferable relative to evidence? If the evidence equally supports both models, there is underdetermination. This paper first distinguishes between different kinds of choice and clarifies the possible resulting types of underdetermination. Then a new answer is presented: the focus is on the choice between a Newtonian deterministic model
supported by indirect evidence from other Newtonian models which invoke similar additional assumptions about the physical systems and a stochastic model that is not supported by indirect evidence. It is argued that the deterministic model is preferable. The argument against underdetermination is then generalised to a broader class of cases. Finally, the paper criticises the extant philosophical answers in relation to the preferable model. Winnie's (1998) argument for the deterministic model is shown to deliver the correct conclusion relative to observations which are possible in principle and where there are no limits, in principle, on observational accuracy (the type of choice Winnie was concerned with). However, in practice the argument fails. A further point made is that Hoefer's (2008) argument for the deterministic model is untenable.

---

Export/Citation:

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

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Werndl, Charlotte c.s.werndl@lse.ac.uk
Keywords:	underdetermination, indirect evidence, determinism, indeterminism, observational equivalence, stochastic processes, dynamical systems
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Depositing User:	Charlotte Werndl
Date Deposited:	06 Jun 2011 11:30
Last Modified:	06 Jun 2011 11:30
Item ID:	8656
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Physics > Classical Physics General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Determinism/Indeterminism Specific Sciences > Probability/Statistics Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics
Date:	2011
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/8656

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item