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Single Idea 21508

[filed under theme 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 5. Anomalies ]

Full Idea

The distinctive significance of anomalies lies in the fact that they undermine the claim of the allegedly basic explanatory principles to be genuinely basic.

Gist of Idea

Anomalies challenge the claim that the basic explanations are actually basic

Source

Laurence Bonjour (The Structure of Empirical Knowledge [1985], 5.3)

Book Ref

Bonjour,Laurence: 'The Structure of Empirical Knowledge' [Harvard 1985], p.99


A Reaction

This seems plausible, suggesting that (rather than an anomaly flatly 'falsifying' a theory) an anomaly may just demand a restructuring or reconceptualising of the theory.


The 8 ideas from 'The Structure of Empirical Knowledge'

A coherence theory of justification can combine with a correspondence theory of truth [Bonjour]
Anomalies challenge the claim that the basic explanations are actually basic [Bonjour]
There will always be a vast number of equally coherent but rival systems [Bonjour]
A well written novel cannot possibly match a real belief system for coherence [Bonjour]
The objection that a negated system is equally coherent assume that coherence is consistency [Bonjour]
Empirical coherence must attribute reliability to spontaneous experience [Bonjour]
A coherent system can be justified with initial beliefs lacking all credibility [Bonjour]
The best explanation of coherent observations is they are caused by and correspond to reality [Bonjour]