Some Remarks on the So-Called Pessimistic Meta-Induction

• Authors: Jacek Rodzeń

Title variants

PL

Kilka uwag o tzw. pesymistycznej meta-indukcji

EN

Some Remarks on the So-Called Pessimistic Meta-Induction

• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

PL

In the paper the idea of the well-known anti-realistic argument from the so-called pessimistic meta-induction is considered. It is ascertained - contrarily to the widespread belief - that Larry Laudan is not the author of the argument, however he has noticed many of its essential aspects, especially the problem of historical continuity between changing scientific theories. It seems that as the author of the argument should be regarded rather Hilary Putnam. A similar idea of pessimistic meta-induction was already anticipated in the work of Henri Poincaré. The paper finishes with conclusion, that scientific realism as a philosophical position has to take into account both the problem of the empirical success of scientific theories and the problem of continuity between them.

• Publisher: University of Warsaw, Institute of Philosophy
• Journal: Filozofia Nauki
• Year: 2006
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 97-110

Dates

published

2006-09-01

Contributors

author

Jacek Rodzeń