PHI 343 - TEST 2 GUIDE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!!!
, Inference to the best explanation - Erwin's Criticisms - ANSWER First Objection - using
IBE you are only comparing thought-of explanations. If one is the best that doesn't
mean you can infer it is true, only that the other explanations are inferior
Background Evidence condition - we can often narrow down to a set of possible
explanations and say that one is true
-Erwins response: we can give an empirical argument that does not mention the best
available explanation ( for above cond.). Comparing background evidence is truly
empirical, explanation plays no role in it. In the case of 3 possible hypotheses, the best
one is more likely to be true than the other two, but you need to look at background
evidence to see if its actually true and not caused by something else.
-Introducing IBE to empirical argument adds nothing of epistemic value to the
straightforward evidential argument that does not mention explanation.
Pragmatic Factors - IBE defenders claim scientists use pragmatic factors to determine
the best and most likely true hypothesis. (simplicity, scope, etc..) IBE arguments can not
always be reduced to empirical arguments.
Erwins reply - no one has been able to show that a pragmatic factor is evidence for a
proposition
2nd reply- if pragmatic factors have value...if you add the background condition, IBE is
still evidential arguments, making IBE superfluous (useless?). New question on if we
can sometimes rely partly on non-empirical evidence when giving an evidential
argument.
What Nagel means by the descriptivist view of theories (Erwin called "reductionism")
and instrumentalism - ANSWER Descriptive View of Theories:
About the cognitive status of theories in physical science. What sense can theories be
viewed true or false.
-oldest account - theory is literally either true or false
-youngest account - theories are logical instruments for organizing our experience and
for ordering experimental laws. theories are not statements. theories can not be
ascribed as true or false.
-third view: (descriptivist) a theory is a compendious but elliptical formulation of relations
of dependence between observable events and properties. cant say a theory is true or
false, but can translate to statements about matters of observation. terms like "atom"
are just shorthand for complex observations and traits, and don't signify an observable
inaccessible physical reality. science never explains things, but merely "describes"
ANSWERS 100% CORRECT!!!
, Inference to the best explanation - Erwin's Criticisms - ANSWER First Objection - using
IBE you are only comparing thought-of explanations. If one is the best that doesn't
mean you can infer it is true, only that the other explanations are inferior
Background Evidence condition - we can often narrow down to a set of possible
explanations and say that one is true
-Erwins response: we can give an empirical argument that does not mention the best
available explanation ( for above cond.). Comparing background evidence is truly
empirical, explanation plays no role in it. In the case of 3 possible hypotheses, the best
one is more likely to be true than the other two, but you need to look at background
evidence to see if its actually true and not caused by something else.
-Introducing IBE to empirical argument adds nothing of epistemic value to the
straightforward evidential argument that does not mention explanation.
Pragmatic Factors - IBE defenders claim scientists use pragmatic factors to determine
the best and most likely true hypothesis. (simplicity, scope, etc..) IBE arguments can not
always be reduced to empirical arguments.
Erwins reply - no one has been able to show that a pragmatic factor is evidence for a
proposition
2nd reply- if pragmatic factors have value...if you add the background condition, IBE is
still evidential arguments, making IBE superfluous (useless?). New question on if we
can sometimes rely partly on non-empirical evidence when giving an evidential
argument.
What Nagel means by the descriptivist view of theories (Erwin called "reductionism")
and instrumentalism - ANSWER Descriptive View of Theories:
About the cognitive status of theories in physical science. What sense can theories be
viewed true or false.
-oldest account - theory is literally either true or false
-youngest account - theories are logical instruments for organizing our experience and
for ordering experimental laws. theories are not statements. theories can not be
ascribed as true or false.
-third view: (descriptivist) a theory is a compendious but elliptical formulation of relations
of dependence between observable events and properties. cant say a theory is true or
false, but can translate to statements about matters of observation. terms like "atom"
are just shorthand for complex observations and traits, and don't signify an observable
inaccessible physical reality. science never explains things, but merely "describes"
