Scorzato, Luigi (2025) A not-too-simple solution to Goodman's new riddle of induction. [Preprint]

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Abstract

I review the works of Gärdenfors (1990) and Scorzato (2013) and show that their combination provides an elegant solution of Goodman's New Riddle of induction. The solution is based on two main ideas: (1) clarifying what is expected from a solution: understanding that philosophy of science is a science itself, with the same limitations and strengths as other scientific disciplines; (2) understanding that the concept of complexity of a model's assumptions and the concept of direct measurements must be characterized together. Although both measurements and complexity have been the subject of a vast literature, within the philosophy of science, essentially no other attempt has been made to combine them. The widespread expectation, among modern philosophers, that Goodman's New Riddle cannot be solved is clearly not defensible without a serious exploration of such a natural approach.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Scorzato, Luigi luigi@scorzato.it 0000-0002-3682-7187
Keywords:	Theory selection, induction, confirmation, explanation, complexity, conceptual spaces
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Complex Systems Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Structure of Theories General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User:	Dr. Luigi Scorzato
Date Deposited:	06 Apr 2026 12:38
Last Modified:	06 Apr 2026 12:38
Item ID:	28930
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Complex Systems Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Artificial Intelligence General Issues > Confirmation/Induction General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Philosophers of Science General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Science vs. Pseudoscience General Issues > Structure of Theories General Issues > Theory Change General Issues > Theory/Observation General Issues > Values In Science
Date:	20 July 2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28930

Available Versions of this Item

• A not-too-simple solution to Goodman's new riddle of induction in the age of AI. (deposited 20 Jul 2025 14:00)
  • A not-too-simple solution to Goodman's new riddle of induction in the age of AI. (deposited 12 Oct 2025 17:31)
    • A not-too-simple solution to Goodman's new riddle of induction in the age of AI. (deposited 14 Oct 2025 01:02)
      • A not-too-simple solution to Goodman's new riddle of induction. (deposited 06 Apr 2026 12:38) [Currently Displayed]

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