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Essay / Popper and unification - 2073
The unificationist view of explanation and the notion of ad hoc as postulated by Popper are very similar concepts, but there is a nuance between the two which deserves attention. be explained. Although both notions seem to show why we choose certain explanatory theories over others, they differ in that the unification model shows us what type of theory we should accept, while Popper's notion of ad hoc shows us what type of theory to reject. Together, these concepts help us better understand the explanatory model of unification, which leads us to better understand why we are inclined to accept certain scientific theories over others. In this article, I will attempt to show that falsification of theories based on Popper's ad hoc criteria reinforces the idea of unification by giving people a more specific way to eliminate competing scientific theories in search of more unified. First, I will briefly describe the unificationist conception of explanation, then I will explain the idea of ad hoc character as expounded by Popper, and finally I will show how ad hoc character can be used to strengthen the conception of unification by increasing its objectivity and providing simpler explanations. To begin with, the concept of unification is essentially the idea that scientific explanations should provide a unified explanation of a range of different phenomena. In other words, the best theories are those that explain the most phenomena in the simplest way. This is why, in the history of scientific explanation, we have preferred Newton's theory of motion to the more specific theories of Kepler and Galileo who preceded it. Because Newton's theory was capable of "unifying" the observational data of his predecessors, as well as explaining other... middle of article ...... must be accepted unless unification is not revised further. For as it stands, Popper's idea of a new theory replacing the old is that it "corrects the old theory, so that it actually contradicts the old theory." (Popper, p.16) This contradiction is the origin of the winner's problem, because the lower explanation has been eclipsed by the general explanation which eliminates the ability of lower theories to be explanatory. In conclusion, Popper's notion of ad hoc It is a nuanced idea that gives more objectivity to the unification model and helps to provide it with more support. By giving us the criteria for determining how to reject theories, Popper's notion of ad hoc allows us to better understand an otherwise intuitive model. Even if the notion of ad hoc explanations does not constitute the miracle solution to the unification model, it helps to complete it and give it more depth...