Abstract
The paper looks at the logic of scientific inquiry through the lens of physical chemistry in order to offer an account of the function of counter-examples to generalizations in scientific inquiry. A metamathematical model of emerging truth (MET) offers an image of truthlikeness in terms of model progressiveness, which supports an analysis of warrant strength that is connected with adaptive logic. TheMET is exemplified by the history of the Periodic Table and examples from the history of chemistry are included by way of illustration. The discussion supports a rethinking of the relation of counter-examples to generalizations in terms of relative warrant strength challenging the standard view that calls for the rejection of a generalization in light of available counter-evidence.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Around and Beyond the Square of Opposition |
| Publisher | Springer Basel |
| Pages | 357-379 |
| Number of pages | 23 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9783034803793 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783034803786 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 1 Jan 2012 |
Keywords
- Adaptive logic
- Argument
- Chemistry
- Inquiry
- Metamathematics
- Periodic Table
- Science
- Square of Opposition
- Truth