Images of Empiricism
Essays on Science and Stances, with a Reply from Bas C. van Fraassen
Monton, Bradley University of Colorado at Boulder
Print publication date: 2007 (this edition)
Published to Oxford Scholarship Online: January 2008
Print ISBN-13: 978-0-19-921884-4
doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199218844.003.0006
 

Philip Percival
This chapter examines the aim of science according to constructive empiricism. It argues that empirical adequacy is not the only scientific non-instrumental theoretical value. A tautologous theory is empirically adequate, and yet such a theory would not be valued in science. It further argues that the scientific evaluation of theories is context-dependent.
Keywords: science, constructive empiricism, tautologous theory, scientific evaluation
doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199218844.003.0006
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Part I The Scientific Image
Part II The Empirical Stance
Part III Van Fraassen's Reply