&HPS1
Thursday, 11 October - Saturday, 13 October 2007
Center for Philosophy of Science
University of Pittsburgh

Thematic Session

Evidence in Theory and Practice
Moderator: John D. Norton

Proposing logics of induction and confirmation has long been a central topic in philosophy of science. Identifying how scientists have used evidence in particular cases has been a correspondingly important topic in history of science. Yet the fit between the two enterprises has been imperfect, with many applications varying from contrived to Procrustean. How are we to understand the import of evidence in a way that is both principled and responsible to the history of its use?