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    Van Fraassen's constructive empiricism shows that empiric... — Carmelics
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    Supports→The Nomological-Explanatory solution to the problem of induction begs the question

    Van Fraassen's constructive empiricism shows that empirical adequacy—fitting only observed data—is a coherent and sufficient explanatory standard.

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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Empirical adequacy avoids ontological commitments to unobservable entities, respecting epistemic humility about what exists.
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    • 2.Observable phenomena are all science can directly access; matching observations is sufficient for practical predictive success.
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    • 3.Competing theories equally adequate to observations are empirically indistinguishable, making further metaphysical claims unjustified.
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    Reasons Against

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    Reason against
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    • 1.Empirical adequacy alone cannot explain why certain unobservable mechanisms produce observed patterns better than rival mechanisms.
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    • 2.The observable/unobservable distinction is theory-dependent and blurry, undermining empirical adequacy as a principled standard.
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    • 3.Science aims at truth about reality, not mere instrumental adequacy; empirical adequacy abandons this legitimate explanatory goal.
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    Related

    Competing theories equally adequate to observations are empirically indistinguis...Empirical adequacy alone cannot explain why certain unobservable mechanisms prod...Empirical adequacy avoids ontological commitments to unobservable entities, resp...Observable phenomena are all science can directly access; matching observations ...
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    Science aims at truth about reality, not mere instrumental adequacy; empirical a...The Nomological-Explanatory solution to the problem of induction begs the questi...The observable/unobservable distinction is theory-dependent and blurry, undermin...

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