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{{PrintDiagramFileTheory assessment is an assessment of a proposed modification of the [[Scientific Mosaic|diagram file=Contextualscientific mosaic]] by the [[Method|method]] employed at the time. By [[The First Law|the first law]], a [[Theory|theory]] already in the mosaic is no longer appraised. By [[The Second Law|the second law]], it is only assessed when it first enters the mosaic.[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|pp. 185-appraisal.jpg}}196]]
Contextual Appraisal theorem (Barseghyan-2015) (view source)
Revision as of 19:37, 24 February 2023
, 19:37, 24 February 2023no edit summary
|Formulated Year=2015
|Formulation File=Contextual-appraisal-box-only.jpg
|Description=Theory <blockquote>The traditional version of comparativism holds that when two theories are compared it doesn’t make any difference which of the two is currently accepted. In reality, however, the starting point for every theory assessment is the current state of the mosaic. Every new theory is basically an assessment of a proposed modification of attempt to modify the [[Scientific Mosaic|scientific mosaic]] by inserting some new elements into the [[Method|method]] employed at mosaic and, possibly, by removing some old elements from the timemosaic. Therefore, what gets decided in actual theory assessment is whether a proposed modification is to be accepted. By [[The First Law|In other words, we judge two competing theories not in a vacuum, as the first law]]traditional version of ''comparativism'' suggests, a [[Theory|theory]] already but only in the context of a specific mosaic . It is no longer appraised. By [[The Second Law|this version of the second law]], it comparativist view that is only assessed when it first enters implicit in the mosaiclaws of scientific change.[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|ppp. 185-196184]]</blockquote>
|Resource=Barseghyan (2015)
|Prehistory=The phenomenon of context dependence in science has been described and emphasized by many authors, notably by [[Helen Longino]].[[CiteRef::Longino (1990)]]
By the traditional ''comparativist'' account of theory appraisal, explains Barseghyan, "all that we need for a theory assessment is two competing theories, some method of assessment, and some relevant evidence. Yet, if we refer to the laws of scientific change, we will see that this list is incomplete. What is missing from this list is the scientific mosaic of the time. What the traditional version of ''comparativism'' doesn’t take into account is that, in reality, all theory assessment takes place within ''a specific historical context'', i.e. within the ''scientific mosaic'' of the time".[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 184]]
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