Skip to main content
Log in

Corroboration and auxiliary hypotheses: Duhem’s thesis revisited

  • Published:
Synthese Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper argues that Duhem’s thesis does not decisively refute a corroboration-based account of scientific methodology (or ‘falsificationism’), but instead that auxiliary hypotheses are themselves subject to measurements of corroboration which can be used to inform practice. It argues that a corroboration-based account is equal to the popular Bayesian alternative, which has received much more recent attention, in this respect.

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

  • Duhem, P. M. M. (1954). The aim and structure of physical theory (trans: Weiner, P.P.). Princeton: Princeton University Press.

  • Fitelson B., Waterman A. (2005) Bayesian confirmation and auxiliary hypotheses revisited: A reply to Strevens. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 56: 293–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitelson B., Waterman A. (2007) Comparative Bayesian confirmation and the Quine–Duhem problem: A rejoinder to Strevens. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 58: 333–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillies D. A. (1971) A falsifying rule for probability statements. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 22: 231–261

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grünbaum A. (1976) Ad hoc auxiliary hypotheses and falsificationism. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 27: 329–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lakatos I. (1974) Popper on demarcation and induction. In: Schilpp P. A. (eds) The philosophy of Karl Popper. Open Court, La Salle, pp 241–273

    Google Scholar 

  • Leplin J. (1975) The concept of an ad hoc hypothesis. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 5: 309–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Newton-Smith W. H. (1981) The rationality of science. London, Routledge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K. R. (1959). The logic of scientific discovery (1st English ed.). New York: Basic Books.

  • Popper K. R. (1983) Realism and the aim of science. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper K. R. (1999) The logic of scientific discovery. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowbottom D. P. (2008) Intersubjective corroboration. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 39: 124–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowbottom D.P. (2008) The big test of corroboration. International Studies in the Philosophy of Science 22: 293–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowbottom D.P. (2008) On the proximity of the logical and ‘objective Bayesian’ interpretations of probability. Erkenntnis 69: 335–349

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowbottom, D. P. (forthcoming). Evolutionary epistemology and the aim of science. Australasian Journal of Philosophy.

  • Salmon W. C. (1981) Rational prediction. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 32: 115–125

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strevens M. (2001) The Bayesian treatment of auxiliary hypotheses. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 52: 515–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Strevens M. (2005) The Bayesian treatment of auxiliary hypotheses: Reply to Fitelson and Waterman. British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 56: 913–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Darrell P. Rowbottom.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rowbottom, D.P. Corroboration and auxiliary hypotheses: Duhem’s thesis revisited. Synthese 177, 139–149 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9643-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9643-4

Keywords

Navigation