Friday, 22 January 2008
Underdetermination of Scientific Theory Building in String Physics and Philosophy of Science
Richard Dawid, University of Vienna
12:05 pm, 817R Cathedral of Learning

Abstract: Though string theory has not been empirically confirmed and still remains theoretically incomplete, most of its exponents are fairly convinced of its scientific viability. In the first half of the talk it shall be argued that this unusual situation is directly related to the ways in which string physics suggests limitations to the underdetermination of scientific theory building by the available data (in short, scientific underdetermination). The second half of the talk will address the relevance of the notion of limitations to scientific underdetermination in a wider philosophical context. Discussing such limitations may shed new light on classical conceptions in philosophy of science like the no miracles argument.