TY - JOUR
TI - Incommensurability Explained in the Terms of Presuppositions. A Comment to Kuhn’s Thesis on Radical Meaning Variance
AU - Grobler, Adam
TI - Incommensurability Explained in the Terms of Presuppositions. A Comment to Kuhn’s Thesis on Radical Meaning Variance
AB - 
	Kuhn’s radical meaning variance thesis implies that scientists, who work in different paradigms cannot understand each other. This, however, seems incredible. The air of paradox can be dispersed once the role of presuppositions in constituting a paradigm is acknowledged. Presuppositions function in the way of the Wittgensteinian ungrounded hinges and often are only implicitly assumed. In the face of recalcitrant puzzles some presuppositions can be made explicit and revised. The mechanism of possible revisions of presuppositions can be accounted for in terms of Hintikka’s interrogative model of scientific inquiry with some amendments.

	The model includes three possible reactions to an anomaly: (i) a conservative offer of an auxiliary hypothesis within the current paradigm, (ii) a reinterpretation of puzzling experimental results and non-revolutionary enrichment of the current paradigm with a novel hypothesis, and (iii) a revision of presuppositions that amounts to a full-fledged scientific revolution. The choice depends on the success or failure of more conservative alternatives and the scope of application of the theory under investigation. In the proposed approach, incommensurability does not hinder communication between the proponents of different paradigms. In addition, some other controversial points in Kuhn’s views are explained, like Kuhn’s losses, reproaching conservative attitudes towards anomalies, or the admissibility or inadmissibility of the coexistence of rival paradigms. Last but not least, a link between a paradigm shift and the strive for truth is established.
VL - 2023
IS - 22 (2023)
PY - 2023
SN - 2451-3202
C1 - 2543-702X
SP - 239
EP - 258
DO - 10.4467/2543702XSHS.23.005.17696
UR - https://ejournals.eu/czasopismo/studia-historiae-scientiarum/artykul/incommensurability-explained-in-the-terms-of-presuppositions-a-comment-to-kuhns-thesis-on-radical-meaning-variance
KW - incommensurability
KW - (non)-factivity of knowledge
KW - paradigm
KW - presupposition
KW - scientific change
KW - radical meaning variance thesis