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    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

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    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    Home/Original/inverse
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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Ptolemy's astronomical account saves the appearances but may not be true, since the phenomena could be saved in some other way

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

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.An account that saves the appearances is not necessarily the only possible account of those phenomena
      ?

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    • 2.Mathematical evidence from Ptolemy conflicts with Aristotle's astronomy
      ?

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    • 3.Saving the appearances does not guarantee the truth of the account
      ?

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    Reasons Against

    2 perspectives
    Reason against 1 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Duhem's thesis establishes that empirically equivalent rival theories are always constructible for any set of observational data.
      ?

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    • 2.Ptolemy's epicycles and Copernicus's heliocentrism both saved identical ancient phenomena, proving underdetermination is not merely hypothetical.
      ?

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    • 3.Underdetermination of theory by evidence entails that no single empirically adequate account can claim exclusive truth on observational grounds alone.
      ?

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    Reason against 2 of 2
    ?
    • 1.Averroes argued Ptolemy's epicycles and eccentrics are mathematically useful fictions that violate Aristotelian physical principles about natural circular motion.
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    • 2.A model violating known physical principles cannot be considered a true description of nature, only an instrumental calculating device.
      ?

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    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.