The Strong Version of Underdetermination of Theories by Empirical Data.

Mostafa Taqavi,Mohammad Zarepour

doi:10.35765/forphil.2008.1301.08

Abstract

The Polish researcher in the field of logic and philosophy, Jan Woleński, in one of his recent articles, “Metalogical Observations About the Underdetermination of Theories by Empirical Data,” logically formalized two weak and strong versions of the underdetermination of theories by empirical data (or UT by abbreviation) and with these formalization has metalogically analyzed these two versions. Finally he has deducted that the weak version is defensible while the strong version is not. In this paper we will critically study Woleński's analysis of the strong version of UT.

Highlights

There have been many critics of the UT, but there is still enthusiasm towards it
It should be said that this enthusiasm is more likely to be a necessity, rather than a scientific curiosity
Because some philosophers of science believe that the UT is a serious threat to realism (Devit 2005, pp. 761-791) some realist philosophers want to deny the possibility of the UT

Summary

Introduction

There have been many critics of the UT, but there is still enthusiasm towards it. It should be said that this enthusiasm is more likely to be a necessity, rather than a scientific curiosity. Because some philosophers of science believe that the UT is a serious threat to realism 761-791) some realist philosophers want to deny the possibility of the UT. Jan Wolenski in one of his recent papers attempts to refute the strong version of UT, by a metalogical approach Woleński takes Mary Hesse’s interpretation of UT and wants to rewrite and formalize it in the language of mathematical logic.

Wolenski’s Deduction

Woleński’s Formalization and Realism

B is a non-analytic non-physical proposition

Epilogue