Why Trust Science? Reliability, Particularity and the Tangle of Science

Cartwright, Nancy

Abstract

In evaluating science, philosophers tends to focus on general laws and on their truth. I urge a shift in focus to the reliability of the panoply of outputs science produces and in tandem, from the general to the particular. Here I give five arguments to support this, including many, many scientific outputs, which must be supposed reliable if we are to warrant our general principles, aren’t truth-apt; and reliability invites the crucial question, ‘Reliable for what?’ Getting clear the particular purpose is essential for effective action and just evaluation.

Citation

Cartwright, N. (2020, December). Why Trust Science? Reliability, Particularity and the Tangle of Science. Presented at Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society, Online via Zoom

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (Published)
• Conference Name: Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society
• Acceptance Date: Apr 28, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 16, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 23, 2020
• Publisher: Aristotelian Society
• Volume: CXX
• Series Title: Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society
• Book Title: Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society : 140th Session 2019-2020.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1141002
• Publisher URL: https://www.aristoteliansociety.org.uk/pdf/nancy_cartwright.pdf