The epistemology of science - a bird's-eye view

In this paper I outline my conception of the epistemology of science, by reference to my published papers, showing how the ideas presented there fit together. In particular I discuss the aim of science, scientific progress, the nature of scientific evidence, the failings of empiricism, inference to the best (or only) explanation, and Kuhnian psychology of discovery. Throughout, I emphasize the significance of the concept of scientific knowledge. 1 The aim of science The aim of science is the generation of scientific knowledge. Science issues in propositional outputs that we seek to support with sufficient evidence that they are worthy of belief. So a principal product of science is scientific belief, and since the aim of belief in general is knowledge, the aim of scientific belief is scientific knowledge. Let me clarify and defend these remarks. First, what is it for belief to have an aim? Mental capacities, such as the capacity for belief, have functions in much the same way as anato...

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: SYNTHESE
• Authors: Alexander Bird
• Keywords: Scientific, Scientific Belief, Scientific Knowledge, SYNTHESE 2010