Abstract
What are the relevant values to the appraisal of research programs? This question remains hotly debated, as philosophers have recently proposed many lists of values potentially relevant to scientific appraisal. Surprisingly, despite being mentioned in many lists, little attention has been paid to fruitfulness. It is unclear how fruitfulness should be explicated, and whether it has any substantial role in scientific appraisal. In this paper, I argue we should explicate fruitfulness as the capacity to develop of research programs. Moreover, I provide a novel strategy to assess and compare the fruitfulness of programs focused on their research questions and heuristics. To illustrate how this strategy would work, I will discuss a case study, namely the adaptationist program in evolutionary psychology.
Highlights
Thomas Kuhn (1977) suggested a list of five values that, among others, have an actual, beneficial role in scientific appraisal
I have argued that the traditional accounts of fruitfulness are too vague to provide a strategy to assess the fruitfulness of research programs
I have suggested a new approach, which is focused on analysing the set of tools used by scientists to extend and improve the content of a program. This approach focuses on examining research questions and discovery heuristics
Summary
Thomas Kuhn (1977) suggested a list of five values that, among others, have an actual, beneficial role in scientific appraisal. This list includes accuracy, consistency, scope, simplicity, and fruitfulness. Philosophers have proposed several lists that include these classical values There is not a general consensus about the definitions and roles of these values. While many papers have shed light on some of these values, such as simplicity Forster and Sober 1994; Baker 2003), little attention has been paid to other values, such as fruitfulness. Few studies have addressed the explication of fruitfulness as a value relevant to assess and compare rival research programs. This article belongs to the Topical Collection: EPSA17: Selected papers from the biannual conference in Exeter Guest Editors: Thomas Reydon, David Teira, Adam Toon
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
