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Is the Contingentist/Inevitabilist Debate a Matter of Degrees?

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Martin, Joseph D 

Abstract

jats:pThe contingentist/inevitabilist debate contests whether the results of successful science are contingent or inevitable. This article addresses lingering ambiguity in the way contingency is defined in this debate. I argue that contingency in science can be understood as a collection of distinct concepts, distinguished by how they hold science contingent, by what elements of science they hold contingent, and by what those elements are contingent upon. I present a preliminary taxonomy designed to characterize the full-range positions available and illustrate that these constitute a diverse array rather than a spectrum.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

50 Philosophy and Religious Studies, 5002 History and Philosophy Of Specific Fields, Neurosciences

Journal Title

Philosophy of Science

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0031-8248
1539-767X

Volume Title

80

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)