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    No Final Theory, however empirically adequate, can rule o... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→We may in future be in a position to mount a credible argument for or against determinism

    No Final Theory, however empirically adequate, can rule out empirically equivalent indeterministic rivals (van Fraassen's constructive empiricism).

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Empirical adequacy concerns only observable phenomena; indeterministic rivals making identical predictions are observationally indistinguishable.
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    • 2.Accepting unobservable differences between empirically equivalent theories commits us to metaphysical claims beyond empirical justification.
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    • 3.Science's epistemic goal is predictive success, not metaphysical truth about hidden structures or determinism.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Deterministic and indeterministic theories often have different mathematical structures enabling indirect empirical discrimination via precision tests.
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    • 2.Empirical equivalence is rare and context-dependent; rival theories typically diverge in novel predictions under different experimental conditions.
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    • 3.Rejecting determinism vs. indeterminism as meaningless confuses epistemology with metaphysics; the distinction may be substantive even if empirically elusive.
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    Related

    Accepting unobservable differences between empirically equivalent theories commi...Deterministic and indeterministic theories often have different mathematical str...Empirical adequacy concerns only observable phenomena; indeterministic rivals ma...Empirical equivalence is rare and context-dependent; rival theories typically di...
    +3 moreShow less
    Rejecting determinism vs. indeterminism as meaningless confuses epistemology wit...Science's epistemic goal is predictive success, not metaphysical truth about hid...We may in future be in a position to mount a credible argument for or against de...

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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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