The resolution of discordant results

Perspectives on Science 3 (3):346-420 (1995)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Experiments often disagree. How then can scientific knowledge be based on experimental evidence? In this paper I will examine four episodes from the history of recent physics: the suggestion of a Fifth Force, a modification of Newton’s law of gravitation; early attempts to detect gravitational radiation ; the claim that a 17-keV neutrino exists; and experiments on atomic-parity violation and on the scattering of polarized electrons and their relation to the Weinberg-Salam unified theory of electroweak interactions. In each of these episodes discordant results were reported, and a consensus was later reached that one result—or set of results—was incorrect. I will examine the process of reaching that consensus. I will show that the decision was reached by reasoned discussion based on epistemological and methodological criteria. It then follows that we may use experimental evidence as the basis of scientific knowledge.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,616

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Resolving discordant results: Modern solar oblateness experiments.Sam Richman - 1996 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 27 (1):1-22.
Pool resolution is NP-hard to recognize.Samuel R. Buss - 2009 - Archive for Mathematical Logic 48 (8):793-798.
The Complexity of Resolution Refinements.Joshua Buresh-Oppenheim & Toniann Pitassi - 2007 - Journal of Symbolic Logic 72 (4):1336 - 1352.
Resisting aliefs: Gendler on belief-discordant behaviors.Jack M. C. Kwong - 2012 - Philosophical Psychology 25 (1):77 - 91.

Analytics

Added to PP
2014-03-30

Downloads
7 (#1,201,537)

6 months
2 (#670,035)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Citations of this work

Calibration.Allan Franklin - 1997 - Perspectives on Science 5 (1):31-80.
Annual modulation experiments, galactic models and WIMPs.Robert G. Hudson - 2006 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 38 (1):97-119.
Annual modulation experiments, galactic models and WIMPs.Robert G. Hudson - 2007 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part B: Studies in History and Philosophy of Modern Physics 38 (1):97-119.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Representing and Intervening.Ian Hacking - 1987 - Revue de Métaphysique et de Morale 92 (2):279-279.
The Neglect of Experiment.Allan Franklin - 1988 - Philosophy of Science 55 (2):306-308.
Why do Scientists Prefer to Vary their Experiments?Allan Franklin - 1984 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 15 (1):51.
Experiment Right or Wrong.Allan Franklin & David Gooding - 1994 - British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 45 (1):341-352.
Against Putting the Phenomena First: the Discovery of the Weak Neutral Current.Andy Pickering - 1984 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 15 (2):85.

View all 11 references / Add more references