Skip to main content
Log in

Hypothetico-Deductivism is Still Hopeless

  • Published:
Erkenntnis Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since Christensen refuted the Bootstrap theory of confirmation in 1990, there have been some trials to improve the Hypothetico-Deductive theory of confirmation. After some trials, Gemes (1998) declared that his revised version completely overcame the difficulties of Hypothetico-Deductivism without generating any new difficulties. In this paper, I will assert that Gemes's revised version encounters some new difficulties, so it cannot be a true alternative to the Bootstrap theory of confirmation and to classical Hypothetico-Deductivism. Also I will assert that, in principle, such new difficulties cannot be overcome by any trials dependent only on formal logic.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  • Christensen, D.: 1990, 'The Irrelevance of Bootstrapping', Philosophy of Science 57, 644-662.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gemes, K.: 1993, 'Hypothetico-Deductivism, Content, and the Natural Axiomatization of Theories', Philosophy of Science 60, 477-487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gemes, K.: 1994, 'Schurz on Hypothetico-Deductivism', Erkenntnis 41, 171-181.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gemes, K.: 1998, 'Hypothetico-Deductivism: The Current State of Play', Erkenntis 49, 4-8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glymour, C.: 1980, 'Discussion: Hypothetico-Deductivism is Hopeless', Philosophy of Science 47, 322-325.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grimes, T. R.: 1990, 'Discussion: Truth, Content and the Hypothetico-Deductive Method', Philosophy of Science 57, 514-522.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schurz, G.: 1991, 'Relevant Deduction', Erkenntnis 35, 391-437.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schurz, G.: 1994, 'Relevant Deduction and Hypothetico-Deductivism: A Reply to Gemes', Erkenntnis 41, 183-188.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Park, SJ. Hypothetico-Deductivism is Still Hopeless. Erkenntnis 60, 229–234 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ERKE.0000012881.03661.dc

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:ERKE.0000012881.03661.dc

Keywords

Navigation