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It is not the case that Legitimizing plausibility assessments erodes the boundary between scientific reasoning and mere subjective preference for elegance or simplicity.
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Reason for
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1.
Plausibility assessments track objective features like internal consistency and compatibility with background knowledge, not mere subjective preference.
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2.
Scientists have always legitimately used plausibility reasoning—parsimony, coherence—to guide theory selection without collapsing into subjectivity.
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3.
The boundary between science and preference is maintained by empirical testing and peer scrutiny of plausibility claims, not by excluding them entirely.
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Reasons Against
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Reason against
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1.
Plausibility assessments rely on subjective judgments about elegance and simplicity rather than empirical evidence or logical necessity.
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2.
Once plausibility becomes a legitimized criterion, scientists can rationalize preferring theories based on aesthetic appeal rather than predictive power.
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3.
Science's epistemic authority depends on distinguishing rigorous empirical methods from the subjective taste-based reasoning of philosophy or art.
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