Re: There is no gap between philosophy and physics - is belief evil?
From: Robert J. Kolker (robert_kolker_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/15/04
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Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 09:01:10 GMT
mmeron@cars3.uchicago.edu wrote:
>
> This may be plausible, but by no means provable.
Two points.
1. All theories are corroberated or falsified modulo instrumental error.
We will never have perfect instruments so we will never have perfect
experiments.
2. Mathematically the problems of showing there is only one theory that
fits a finite number of facts may be insuperable. In general one can
cobble up a theory that fits a finite number of facts (by simple
conjunction) but such a kludge is so ad hoc it is bound to fail. Showing
there is only one general, non-ad hoc theory up to a logical equivalence
is mathematically so difficult (and is most likely impossible) that we
will never know if we have "the" theory that explains all the (known)
facts.
Bob Kolker
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