more from Willard Quine

Single Idea 4713

[catalogued under 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 3. Instrumentalism]

Full Idea

Quine's epistemological position is instrumentalist. Our theories are instruments we use to make predictions about observations.

Gist of Idea

For Quine, theories are instruments used to make predictions about observations

Source

report of Willard Quine (works [1961]) by Paul O'Grady - Relativism Ch.3

Book Reference

O'Grady,Paul: 'Relativism' [Acumen 2002], p.68


A Reaction

This is the pragmatist in Quine. It fits the evolutionary view to think that the bottom line is prediction. My theory about the Pelopponesian War seems an exception.