Inevitability, contingency, and epistemic humility

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
Ian James Kidd

Abstract

This paper offers an epistemological framework for the debate about whether the results of scientific enquiry are inevitable or contingent. I argue in Sections 2 and 3 that inevitabilist stances are doubly guilty of epistemic hubris--a lack of epistemic humility--and that the real question concerns the scope and strength of our contingentism. The latter stages of the paper-Sections 4 and 5-address some epistemological and historiographical worries and sketch some examples of deep contingencies to guide further debate. I conclude by affirming that the concept of epistemic humility can usefully inform critical reflection on the contingency of the sciences and the practice of history of science.

References

May 11, 2002·The Journal of Biological Chemistry·Christian KellerRolf Knippers
Jul 22, 2015·Studies in History and Philosophy of Science·Katherina Kinzel

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Citations

Jan 17, 2016·Studies in History and Philosophy of Science·Jouni-Matti Kuukkanen
Jan 17, 2016·Studies in History and Philosophy of Science·Robin Findlay Hendry

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