Philosophical Historical Dimensions of Peirce's Self-Corrective Thesis: Is Scientific Method Self-Corrective? - Softcover

Bakalis, Nikolaos

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3838124693 ISBN 13: 9783838124698

Publisher: Suedwestdeutscher Verlag fuer Hochschulschriften, 2011

Synopsis

Charles S. Peirce's Self-Corrective Thesis (SCT) is based on the idea that the progress in science lies in its self-corrective methods. Particularly, Peirce's notion that scientific method consisted of four self-corrective inferences (abduction, deduction, qualitative and quantitative induction) is controversial in the philosophy and history of science. Supporters hold that all the aspects of scientific inference, introduced by Peirce, contribute to its self-correction, while critics claim that the justification for the self-corrective character of scientific method is inadequate. Some critics argue that the justification for the self- corrective character of abduction is insufficient, while others maintain that from all four methods only quantitative induction is proved to be self- corrective. In this project the author explores Peirce's proposed scientific methodology and discusses it in comparison with these objections, so as to defend the SCT and distinguish the context of its validity. He appeals to the historical case of the Chemical Revolution and discusses its interpretations by different methodological views in order to evaluate the SCT.

About this title

About the Author:

Nikolaos Bakalis is Assistant at the Interdisciplinary Center for Science and Technology Studies (IZWT), Wuppertal University, Germany. Degree of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Further studies of Chemistry and Philosophy, University of London, England. PhD in Philosophy at Wuppertal University.

About this edition

• Publisher: Suedwestdeutscher Verlag fuer Hochschulschriften
• Publication date: 2011
• ISBN 10: 3838124693
• ISBN 13: 9783838124698
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 280