<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The paper discusses the concept of adequacy central for Pertażycki’s methodology. According to Petrażycki any valuable scientific theory should be adequate, that is, neither limping (to broad with respect its actual scope) nor jumping (too narrow with respect to its actual scope). Consequently, adequacy of a theory is a stronger condition than its truth. Every adequacy theory is true, but not conversely. However, there is problem, because scientific laws are conditionals (implications). This suggests that adequacy is too strong conditions, because the consequence of an implication has a wider scope than its antecedent. Thus, laws should have the form of equivalence. The paper shows how model-theoretic characterization of theories allows to recognize truth and adequacy, consistently with Petrażycki’s claims.</p></abstract>

The paper discusses the concept of adequacy central for Pertażycki’s methodology. According to Petrażycki any valuable scientific theory should be adequate, that is, neither limping (to broad with respect its actual scope) nor jumping (too narrow with respect to its actual scope). Consequently, adequacy of a theory is a stronger condition than its truth. Every adequacy theory is true, but not conversely. However, there is problem, because scientific laws are conditionals (implications). This suggests that adequacy is too strong conditions, because the consequence of an implication has a wider scope than its antecedent. Thus, laws should have the form of equivalence. The paper shows how model-theoretic characterization of theories allows to recognize truth and adequacy, consistently with Petrażycki’s claims.

Truth and Adequacy. Remarks on Petrażycki’s Methodology

Studia Humana

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Truth and Adequacy. Remarks on Petrażycki\u2019s Methodology"}

The paper discusses the concept of adequacy central for Pertażycki’s methodology. According to Petrażycki any valuable scientific theory should be adequate,...

Truth and Adequacy. Remarks on Petrażycki’s Methodology

Published Online: Nov 07, 2018

Page range: 3 - 8

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sh-2018-0018

Keywords
theory, truth, adequacy, model

© 2018 Jan Woleński, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Truth and Adequacy. Remarks on Petrażycki’s Methodology

Published Online: Nov 07, 2018

Page range: 3 - 8

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sh-2018-0018

Keywordstheory, truth, adequacy, model

© 2018 Jan Woleński, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
theory, truth, adequacy, model