Dogmatism and Evolution: Studies in Modern Philosophy.

Dogmatism and Theoretical Pluralism in Modern Cosmology

This work discusses the presence of a dogmatic tendency within modern cosmology, and some ideas capable of neutralizing its negative influence. It is verified that warnings about the dangers of dogmatic thinking in cosmology can be found as early as the 1930’s, and we discuss the modern appearance of “scientific dogmatism”. The solution proposed to counteract such an influence, which is capable...

Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

We offer a framework to represent the roles of empirical and theoretical factors in theory construction, and examine a case study to illustrate how the framework can be used to illuminate central features of scientific reasoning. The case study provides an extension of French and Ladyman’s (1997) analysis of Fritz and Heinz London’s model of superconductivity to accommodate the role of the anal...

Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics

In recent years a growing number of philosophers of science have come to realise that the philosophical foundations of statistical mechanics are not as secure as was once thought. Conceptual problems that had been swept under a carpet of technicalities, or simply ignored, have surfaced, solutions that were accepted are being questioned, and new routes are being explored. Thus, central issues su...

Fothcoming in Philosophical Studies PROBLEMS FOR DOGMATISM

Looking at the end of my arms, there appear to be some hands. Am I thereby justified in believing that these are hands? That depends. We can imagine possible scenarios in which it falsely appears to me that I have hands. Perhaps I'm a handless brain-in-a-vat artificially being fed experiences as of a couple of hands before me. Or perhaps my hands have been amputated and replaced by plastic repl...

Review of "Unmodern Philosophy and Modern Philosophy"