The Uniformity Principle vs. the Disuniformity Principle

被引:2
|
作者
Park, Seungbae [1 ]
机构
[1] Ulsan Natl Inst Sci & Technol, Div Gen Studies, Ulsan 689798, South Korea
关键词
Disuniformity principle; Pessimistic induction; Scientific realism; Uniformity principle; UNDERCONSIDERATION; INFERENCE; REALISM;
D O I
10.1007/s12136-016-0302-3
中图分类号
B [哲学、宗教];
学科分类号
01 ; 0101 ;
摘要
The pessimistic induction is built upon the uniformity principle that the future resembles the past. In daily scientific activities, however, scientists sometimes rely on what I call the disuniformity principle that the future differs from the past. They do not give up their research projects despite the repeated failures. They believe that they will succeed although they failed repeatedly, and as a result they achieve what they intended to achieve. Given that the disuniformity principle is useful in certain cases in science, we might reasonably use it to infer that present theories are true unlike past theories. Hence, pessimists have the burden to show that our prediction about the fate of present theories is more likely to be true if we use the uniformity principle than if we use the disuniformity principle.
引用
收藏
页码:213 / 222
页数:10
相关论文
共 50 条