Exceeding Our Grasp by P. Kyle Stanford
Science, History, and the Problem of Unconceived Alternatives
The book argues that because scientists have historically failed to imagine alternative theories that later proved correct, we cannot reliably infer that our current best theories are close to the truth. It surveys historical case studies where revolutionary replacements were unconceived by contemporaries, formulates the “problem of unconceived alternatives,” and shows that no methodological rule can guarantee we have enumerated relevant alternatives. The result is a challenge to straightforward scientific realism and a call for epistemic humility, methodological pluralism, and caution in claiming that current theories capture reality.
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- Published
- 2006
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Unknown
- Pages
- Unknown
- Original Language
- English
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(3.0)
- Alternate Titles
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