Description
Underdetermination and Theoretical Virtues addresses a fundamental challenge in philosophy of science: the problem that empirical evidence often underdetermines theory choice, leaving multiple competing theories equally supported by available data. This element explores how scientists navigate this problem by appealing to theoretical virtues—desirable qualities of theories such as simplicity, explanatory power, predictive scope, and coherence.
Tulodziecki examines whether these virtues provide rational grounds for preferring one theory over another, or whether they merely express subjective preferences. The book surveys major positions in the debate, including empiricism, scientific realism, and pragmatism, while considering historical case studies from physics and other sciences. By clarifying the relationship between underdetermination, evidence, and theory choice, this work illuminates how science progresses despite the logical underdetermination of theories by data.
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