Single Idea 15283

[catalogued under 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 1. Scientific Theory]

Full Idea

Whatever simplicity criterion is chosen for theories, it can at best sort out strata of explanations of equal simplicity, each stratum containing infinitely many items.

Gist of Idea

Simplicity can sort theories out, but still leaves an infinity of possibilities

Source

Harré,R./Madden,E.H. (Causal Powers [1975], 7.I)

Book Reference

Harré,R/Madden,E.H.: 'Causal Powers: A Theory of Natural Necessity' [Blackwell 1975], p.120


A Reaction

[They cite Katz 1962 for this] This sounds to me like a purely technical result, where pragmatics would narrow the plausible theories right down. The 'Paradox of Clavius' is behind the idea (with an infinity of possible middle terms).

Related Ideas

Idea 15286 Clavius's Paradox: purely syntactic entailment theories won't explain, because they are too profuse [Harré/Madden]

Idea 6805 Relativity ousted Newtonian mechanics despite a loss of simplicity [Bird]

Idea 21688 There are four suspicious reasons why we prefer simpler theories [Quine]