Adaptive Design, Contingency, and Ontological Principles for Limited Beings. Issue 5 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brooks, Daniel S.
• Is Part Of: Philosophy of science. Volume 88:Issue 5(2021)
• Page Start: 871
• Page End: 881
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Science -- Periodicals; Science -- Philosophy; Science; Science -- Philosophy; Philosophie des sciences; Epistemology; Periodicals; 501
• DOI: 10.1086/715510
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1539-767X

Abstract

Abstract : Transcendental arguments are not popular in contemporary philosophy of science. They are typically seen as antinaturalistic and incapable of providing explanatory force in accounting for natural phenomena. However, when viewed as providing (certain types of) intelligibility to complicated concepts used in scientific reasoning, a concrete and productive role is recoverable for transcendental reasoning in philosophy of science. In this article I argue that the resources, and possibly the need, for such a role are available within a thoroughly naturalistic framework garnered from the work of Hasok Chang and William Wimsatt.