b. 1941
Larry Laudan is an American philosopher of science known for his critiques of scientific realism and his development of a problem-solving model of scientific progress. His work on the pessimistic meta-induction and normative naturalism has been deeply influential in debates about the rationality and reliability of science.
Developed the pessimistic meta-induction argument against scientific realism
Proposed the problem-solving model of scientific progress in 'Progress and Its Problems' (1977)
Articulated normative naturalism as a methodology for philosophy of science
Critiqued the no-miracles argument by challenging the reliability of approximate truth claims
Advanced the reticulational model relating theories, methods, and aims in science
The no-miracles argument rests on the premise that scientific methodology is informed by approximately true background theories
premiseThe reliability of inference to the best explanation is precisely what the no-miracles argument is attempting to establish
premiseThe plausibility of the premise that scientific methodology is informed by approximately true background theories itself relies on an inference to the best explanation
claimThe no-miracles argument (that scientific methodology is reliable because it is informed by approximately true background theories) is circular
The reliability of inference to the best explanation is precisely what the no-miracles argument is attempting to establish
premiseThe plausibility of the premise that scientific methodology is informed by approximately true background theories itself relies on an inference to the best explanation
claimThe no-miracles argument (that scientific methodology is reliable because it is informed by approximately true background theories) is circular