Phänomenologie der digitalen Welt

Sommerschule der Deutschen Gesellschaft für phänomenologische Forschung

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Why the pessimistic induction is a fallacy

Peter J. Lewis

pp. 371-380

Abstrakt

Putnam and Laudan separately argue that the falsity of past scientific theories gives us reason to doubt the truth of current theories. Their arguments have been highly influential, and have generated a significant literature over the past couple of decades. Most of this literature attempts to defend scientific realism by attacking the historical evidence on which the premises of the relevant argument are based. However, I argue that both Putnam's and Laudan's arguments are fallacious, and hence attacking their premises is unnecessary. The paper concludes with a discussion of the further historical evidence that would be required if the pessimistic induction is to present a serious threat to scientific realism.

Publication details

Published in:

(2001) Synthese 129 (3).

Seiten: 371-380

DOI: 10.1023/A:1013139410613

Referenz:

Lewis Peter J. (2001) „Why the pessimistic induction is a fallacy“. Synthese 129 (3), 371–380.