TITLE:
Empirical Identity as an Indicator of Theory Choice
AUTHORS:
Lei Ma
KEYWORDS:
Empirical Identity, Theory Choice, United Index System, Kuhnian Losses, Underdetermination
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Philosophy,
Vol.4 No.4,
November
14,
2014
ABSTRACT: There are many theories about theory choice in philosophy of science, but no any indicator of scientific theory has been precisely defined, let alone a united index system. By the example of empirical identity, I shall show that a range of scientific indicators to decide theory choice can be precisely defined by some basic concepts. I think that these indicators can provide us a better description of the principles of philosophy of science. The certain pursuit of theories’ empirical identity and novelty leads the cumulative view of scientific progress; under non-cumulative circumstance, it is totally practicable to judge a theory’s empirical identity as well as empirical novelty; empirical identity underdetermines the acceptance of a particular theory. It is possible that all the principles of philosophy of science could be explained again through the system of index of theory choice, thus a more rigorous theory of philosophy of science could be established.