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    Carmelics

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
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    It is not the case that Central generalizations like 'firms maximize profits' function as domain assumptions, which must be approximately true for the theory's scope to be legitimate.

    ?Set your confidence on the premises below to see your aggregate.

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Many successful theories use demonstrably false assumptions (spherical cows, frictionless surfaces) yet remain scientifically legitimate.
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    • 2.Firms pursue multiple goals—survival, market share, social legitimacy—making profit-maximization empirically inaccurate as a domain assumption.
      ?

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    • 3.Predictive accuracy matters more than assumption truth; a theory can work despite false foundations if outputs match reality.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Theories require background assumptions to establish scope; without them, no theory can claim applicability to any domain.
      ?

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    • 2.Profit-maximization approximately holds across competitive markets; deviations are often marginal and don't invalidate core predictions.
      ?

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    • 3.Allowing false domain assumptions would make theories unfalsifiable and scientifically illegitimate.
      ?

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