(March 25, 2015 at 5:20 am)FallentoReason Wrote:(March 25, 2015 at 4:59 am)Exian Wrote: So it could be phrased this way: If a prediction made by a scientific theory comes true, does the scientific theory inherit the state of being true? Why not, I say. If the prediction ends up being false, then the theory is wrong. I don't think the line of logic is reiterating itself, because its dealing with two different bodies, the theory and the prediction, and putting them up against "true". "Our best scientific theories are successful" is self-evident. Why are they successful? Because the definition of a successful theory is that it makes predictions that comes true, and we can see that the predictions come true.
So here you're essentially using *P2 from the OP. You're saying that theories are successful because they're empirically adequate. The problem is that it's possible to have a theory that is empirically adequate, yet clearly false.
Like... very probably every single one science has ever come up with, or ever will?
The fool hath said in his heart, There is a God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.
Psalm 14, KJV revised edition
