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http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/10935| Title: | Simple or simplistic? Scientists' views on Occam's razor |
| Authors: | Riesch, H |
| Keywords: | Popular science;Occam's razor;Sociology of philosophy of science |
| Issue Date: | 2010 |
| Publisher: | University of the Basque Country |
| Citation: | Theoria: An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 25(1): 75 - 90, (May 2010) |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a discourse analysis of 30 popular science books and 40 semi-structured interviews with scientists on their views of Occam's razor and simplicity. It finds that there are many different interpretations and thoughts about the precise meaning of the principle as well as many scientists who reject it outright, or only a very limited version. In light of the variation of scientists' opinions, the paper asks what use it has as a rhetorical device and how scientists' interpretation of Occam's razor impacts on the study of popular science and affects the communication between philosophy and science. |
| URI: | http://www.ehu.eus/ojs/index.php/THEORIA/article/view/489 http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/10935 |
| DOI: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1387/theoria.489 |
| ISSN: | 2171-679X |
| Appears in Collections: | Dept of Social and Political Sciences Research Papers |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulltext.pdf | 260.73 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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