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Comparatism--A constructive approach in the philosophy of science

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  • Tullberg, Jan

Abstract

The fundamental idea in the comparatist approach presented here is that a scientific theory is not judged to be right or wrong in itself, but as more true or false in comparison with an alternative. A comparison between two alternatives needs a standard and ultimately, truth is the standard of science. Comparatism follows the objectivist tradition. The most significant deviation from major ideas in the objectivist school is proposing a less dominating role for falsification. The comparatism perspective is then applied to some controversies of methodology in economics. Comparatism is claimed to be a descriptive model for much of science and to be a normative model for constructive guidance of scientific inquiry.

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  • Tullberg, Jan, 2011. "Comparatism--A constructive approach in the philosophy of science," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 444-453, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:40:y:2011:i:4:p:444-453
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