Constraints on Rational Theory Choice

Bradley, Seamus (2017): Constraints on Rational Theory Choice. In: British Journal for the Philosophy of Science, Bd. 68, Nr. 3: S. 639-661

Abstract

In a recent article, Samir Okasha presented an argument that suggests that there is no rational way to choose among scientific theories. This would seriously undermine the view that science is a rational enterprise. In this article, I show how a suitably nuanced view of what scientific rationality requires allows us to sidestep this argument. In doing so, I present a new argument in favour of voluntarism of the type favoured by van Fraassen. I then show how such a view of scientific rationality gives a precise interpretation of what Thomas Kuhn thought.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• ISSN: 0007-0882
• Sprache: Englisch