Duhem and Holism
Duhem and Holism by Milena Ivanova, published by Cambridge University Press on July 29, 2021, is a concise exploration of the holistic thesis developed by Pierre Duhem. This edition, comprising 75 pages, delves into the complexities of scientific theory testing, emphasizing that no theory is evaluated in isolation. The book discusses how negative experimental results can be attributed to various factors beyond the theory itself, raising questions about the criteria scientists use to determine whether to revise a theory or its underlying assumptions.
Readers will find a thorough analysis of Duhem’s perspective on holism and the philosophical implications of his arguments. The text addresses the challenges faced by scientists when interpreting experimental outcomes and highlights the role of intuition in decision-making processes. Additionally, it examines contemporary philosophical strategies for identifying errors and justifying the abandonment of theories or auxiliary hypotheses. This work contributes to the broader discourse on the philosophy of science, particularly regarding the interplay between theory and evidence.
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The holistic thesis developed by Pierre Duhem challenges the idea that our evidence can conclusively falsify a theory. Given that no scientific theory is tested in isolation, a negative experiment can always be attributed to components other than the theory we test – to the auxiliary hypotheses and background assumptions. How do scientists decide whether the experimental result undermines the theory or points at an error in the underlying assumptions? Duhem argues that we cannot offer a rule that directs when the scientist should employ a radical or conservative strategy in light of a negative result, and ultimately they will appeal to their intuition. More recently philosophers have offered a number of strategies of how to locate error and justify the abandonment of a theory or an auxiliary hypothesis. This Element analyses Duhem’s response to holism and subsequent accounts of how the problem can be resolved.
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