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    Inverse View

    It is not the case that Van Fraassen's constructive empiricism shows that empirical adequacy—fitting only observed data—is a coherent and sufficient explanatory standard.

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

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 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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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 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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