What Scientific Theories Could Not Be

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

According to the semantic view of scientific theories, theories are classes of models. I show that this view—if taken literally—leads to absurdities. In particular, this view equates theories that are distinct, and it distinguishes theories that are equivalent. Furthermore, the semantic view lacks the resources to explicate interesting theoretical relations, such as embeddability of one theory into another. The untenability of the semantic view—as currently formulated—threatens to undermine scientific structuralism.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftPhilosophy of Science
Vol/bind79
Udgave nummer2
Sider (fra-til)183-206
ISSN0031-8248
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2012
Eksternt udgivetJa

ID: 289118232