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Ideas of W.H. Newton-Smith, by Text
[Canadian, fl. 1980, At Balliol College, Oxford University.]
1981
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The Rationality of Science
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I.2
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p.3
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3853
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For science to be rational, we must explain scientific change rationally
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I.4
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p.11
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3854
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Positivists hold that theoretical terms change, but observation terms don't
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I.4
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p.12
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3855
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Critics attack positivist division between theory and observation
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I.6
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p.18
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3857
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Defeat relativism by emphasising truth and reference, not meaning
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II.2
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p.27
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3858
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A full understanding of 'yellow' involves some theory
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II.3
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p.31
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3859
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We do not wish merely to predict, we also want to explain
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III.4
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p.55
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3861
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Theories generate infinite truths and falsehoods, so they cannot be used to assess probability
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III.9
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p.72
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3862
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All theories contain anomalies, and so are falsified!
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III.9
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p.73
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3863
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The anomaly of Uranus didn't destroy Newton's mechanics - it led to Neptune's discovery
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III.9
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p.75
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3864
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Anomalies are judged against rival theories, and support for the current theory
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IV.3
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p.90
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3865
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Why should it matter whether or not a theory is scientific?
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IX.2
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p.211
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3870
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The real problem of science is how to choose between possible explanations
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VII.1
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p.148
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3866
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If theories are really incommensurable, we could believe them all
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VII.6
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p.170
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3867
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De re necessity arises from the way the world is
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VIII.8
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p.197
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3869
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More truthful theories have greater predictive power
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X.2
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p.241
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3871
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Explaining an action is showing that it is rational
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X.4
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p.249
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3872
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We must assess the truth of beliefs in identifying them
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