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A Metamathematical Model for A/O Opposition in Scientific Inquiry

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Around and Beyond the Square of Opposition

Part of the book series: Studies in Universal Logic ((SUL))

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Abstract

The paper looks at the logic of scientific inquiry through the lens of physical chemistry in order to offer an account of the function of counter-examples to generalizations in scientific inquiry. A metamathematical model of emerging truth (MET) offers an image of truthlikeness in terms of model progressiveness, which supports an analysis of warrant strength that is connected with adaptive logic. The MET is exemplified by the history of the Periodic Table and examples from the history of chemistry are included by way of illustration. The discussion supports a rethinking of the relation of counter-examples to generalizations in terms of relative warrant strength challenging the standard view that calls for the rejection of a generalization in light of available counter-evidence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Foundations, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ, 07044, USA

    Mark Weinstein

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  1. Mark Weinstein
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Correspondence to Mark Weinstein .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institute of Philosophy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Largo São Francisco de Paula 1, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20051-0, Brazil

    Jean-Yves Béziau

  2. , Institute of Philosophy, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 49a, Bern, 3000, Switzerland

    Dale Jacquette

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Weinstein, M. (2012). A Metamathematical Model for A/O Opposition in Scientific Inquiry. In: Béziau, JY., Jacquette, D. (eds) Around and Beyond the Square of Opposition. Studies in Universal Logic. Springer, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-0379-3_24

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