Arguments (inferences) in physics

[Pentcho Valev]

Steven,

It is so difficult to initiate a discussion on a serious mailing list and
the reason, I am afraid, are interferences like yours. Let us assume you
are right and my writings are extremely incompetent, mad etc. Still why
should the question "Should a physical theory that has been proved to be an
inconsistency be rejected?" be only given the answer " firm 'no', or at
least 'not necessarily' "? Is that enough? Would another incompetent person
decide to raise a problem on the list knowing that he/she may be called
"mad" as a result? I simply don't understand your ethics.

Pentcho

Steven French wrote:

> Pentcho, Pentcho, Pentcho,
>
> As I have told you elsewhere, there have been numerous discussions in
> the literature concerning inconsistency in science (eg the book edited
> by J. Meheus helpfully entitled,  Inconsistency in Science!) and the
> likes of Newton da Costa, Graham Priest, Joel Smith, John Norton,
> Diderik Batens, Joke Meheus and others would answer your question
>
> > Should a physical theory that has been proved to be an
> > inconsistency be rejected?
>
> with a firm 'no', or at least 'not necessarily'!
>
> Why don't you do some reading instead of posting these mad missives to
> philos-l? In particular why don;t you take a look at Prof. Meheus' work
> on Carnot, since that may be more to your thermodymanical taste.
>
> cheers,
> Steven
> Steven French
> Professor of Philosophy of Science
> Division of History and Philosophy of Science
> School of Philosophy
> University of Leeds
> Leeds LS2 9JT
>
> Tel: 0113 3433279
> Fax: 0113 343 3265
> Email: s.r.d.french at leeds.ac.uk
> http://www.philosophy.leeds.ac.uk/Staff/SF/Index.htm
>
> Editor-in-Chief, Metascience
> http://www.kluweronline.com/issn/0815-0796/current
>
> "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it does not go away."
> (Philip K, Dick)
>
> _______________________________________________________
> Mail group "philphys"
> ESF Network for Philosophical and
> Foundational Problems of Modern Physics
> Help & Archive: http://philosophy.elte.hu/philphys.html
> _______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________
Mail group "philphys"
ESF Network for Philosophical and
Foundational Problems of Modern Physics
Help & Archive: http://philosophy.elte.hu/philphys.html
_______________________________________________________