Point-Free Geometry and Verisimilitude of Theories

Journal of Philosophical Logic 36 (6):707-733 (2007)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

A metric approach to Popper's verisimilitude question is proposed which is related to point-free geometry. Indeed, we define the theory of approximate metric spaces whose primitive notions are regions, inclusion relation, minimum distance, and maximum distance between regions. Then, we show that the class of possible scientific theories has the structure of an approximate metric space. So, we can define the verisimilitude of a theory as a function of its (approximate) distance from the truth. This avoids some of the difficulties arising from the known definitions of verisimilitude.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 93,296

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Approximate Similarities and Poincaré Paradox.Giangiacomo Gerla - 2008 - Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 49 (2):203-226.
A Note on Verisimilitude and Accuracy.Randall G. McCutcheon - 2023 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 74 (2):431-434.
Popper's account of acceptability.R. G. Swinburne - 1971 - Australasian Journal of Philosophy 49 (2):167 – 176.
Approximate isomorphism of metric structures.James E. Hanson - forthcoming - Mathematical Logic Quarterly.
Approximate truth and scientific realism.Thomas Weston - 1992 - Philosophy of Science 59 (1):53-74.
Theory-distance and verisimilitude.Raimo Tuomela - 1978 - Synthese 38 (2):213 - 246.
Domain representability of metric spaces.Jens Blanck - 1997 - Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 83 (3):225-247.
Special Issue on Point-Free Geometry and Topology.Cristina Coppola & Giangiacomo Gerla - 2013 - Logic and Logical Philosophy 22 (2):139-143.

Analytics

Added to PP
2009-01-28

Downloads
13 (#1,066,279)

6 months
43 (#97,437)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Conjectures and Refutations.K. Popper - 1963 - Les Etudes Philosophiques 21 (3):431-434.
Objective knowledge: an evolutionary approach.Karl Raimund Popper - 1972 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Process and reality: an essay in cosmology.Alfred North Whitehead - 1929 - New York: Free Press. Edited by David Ray Griffin & Donald W. Sherburne.
The Concept of Nature: Tarner Lectures.Alfred North Whitehead - 1920 - Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books.
Popper’s qualitative theory of verisimilitude.David Miller - 1974 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 25 (2):166-177.

View all 15 references / Add more references