NDLI: In pursuit of resistance: pragmatic recommendations for doing science within one’s means

Please wait, while we are loading the content...

In pursuit of resistance: pragmatic recommendations for doing science within one’s means

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	McLaughlin, Amy
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	Charles Peirce, the founder of pragmatism and himself a working scientist, was concerned to formulate elements of his pragmatism so as to be of practical benefit to philosophers and scientists alike. This discussion investigates the practical recommendations of Peircean pragmatism, especially as it relates to questions of how we should conduct scientific inquiry. Peirce’s model of inquiry is supposed to demarcate appropriate from specious methods of inquiry. While, as Cheryl Misak points out, Peirce’s explicit account fails, the account can nevertheless be rescued by elements of his own system. Specifically the account provided in this paper draws from Peirce’s corollary to his “first rule of reason,” that one should not block the road to inquiry. Following this corollary, under the guidance of Peirce’s view of reality and the role it plays in inquiry, leads us to conclude that the optimal way to conduct inquiry is to follow the path of greatest resistance. We cannot, however, as Peirce recognized, pursue our researches optimally, since we are limited in time, energy, and other resources. Making the best use of those resources requires a measure of economy. To this end, Peirce developed specific recommendations about the economy of research. The focus here is on his recommendation regarding hypothesis testing, which is that we “begin with that positive prediction . . . which seems least likely to be verified.” According to this suggestion, to test any given hypothesis we should begin by assessing the probability of each of its predictions, given a suitable, contrary hypothesis. Once we note which are the least likely of the predictions, we use other economic factors to determine which tests to perform. The fortified Peircean account developed here maintains that inquiry should be conducted so as to leave open the path to future inquiry. This means taking a particular attitude toward our set of beliefs—being prepared to recognize their limitations and keeping the field of belief susceptible to doubt. In accepting that inquiry is best that serves to maximize resistance, we require of ourselves a constant striving, believing just what we believe, but never resting content with it. This is the attitude of the consummate scientist, accepting the best of the theories available, but never dogmatically, and always on alert for opportunities to recognize the shortcomings of those views and awake to the possibility that other, better theories are on the horizon.
Starting Page	353
Ending Page	371
Page Count	19
File Format	PDF
ISSN	18794912
Journal	European Journal for Philosophy of Science
Volume Number	1
Issue Number	3
e-ISSN	18794920
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2011-08-02
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Charles Peirce Pragmatism Reality Scientific inquiry Inquiry Economy of research Hypothesis testing Philosophy of Science
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Philosophy History and Philosophy of Science

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

1 in pursuit of resistance: pragmatic recommendations for doing science within one’s means.

Peirce on Educational Beliefs

Peirce on Education: Discussion of Peirce’s Definition of a University

A Pragmatic Case against Pragmatic Scientific Realism

How Pragmatic are the Examples in Peirce's Illustrations?

Indeterminacy, Ultimacy, and the World: the Self-Creation of Religious Pluralism through Community and Creation

To Believe in Belief : Popper and Van Fraassen on Scientific Realism

Еволюционната космология на Чарлс С. Пърс

Truth in Pragmatism

In pursuit of resistance: pragmatic recommendations for doing science within one’s means

Similar Documents

1 in pursuit of resistance: pragmatic recommendations for doing science within one’s means.

Peirce on Educational Beliefs

Peirce on Education: Discussion of Peirce’s Definition of a University

A Pragmatic Case against Pragmatic Scientific Realism

How Pragmatic are the Examples in Peirce's Illustrations?

Indeterminacy, Ultimacy, and the World: the Self-Creation of Religious Pluralism through Community and Creation

To Believe in Belief : Popper and Van Fraassen on Scientific Realism

Еволюционната космология на Чарлс С. Пърс

Truth in Pragmatism

In pursuit of resistance: pragmatic recommendations for doing science within one’s means