Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gvvz8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-30T17:10:29.317Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 2 - Pessimism, Base Rates and the No-Virtue-Coincidence Argument

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 May 2018

Samuel Schindler
Affiliation:
Aarhus Universitet, Denmark
Get access

Summary

This chapter assesses the strength of two prominent arguments against realism, namely the Pessimistic Meta Induction and the (related) Problem of Unconceived Alternatives. The chapter concludes that the latter does not pose a threat that is significantly distinct from the former. The chapter then argues that the more fundamental concern of realists (and antirealists alike) must be the so-called base-rate fallacy, as highlighted by Magnus and Callender, in particular. On the basis of the Kuhnian framework of theory-choice and an epistemological insight by Earman, the chapter advances a new argument for realism. This ‘no-virtue-coincidence argument’ for realism shows that a theory that possesses all of the standard virtues and is embraced by numerous scientists is likely to be true.
Type
Chapter
Information
Theoretical Virtues in Science
Uncovering Reality through Theory
, pp. 39 - 68
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2018

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×