Can We Test Inconsistent Empirical Theories?

Despite the logical possibility and alleged existence of inconsistent empirical theories, the problem of their testability remains largely unexplored. I develop a testability criterion which makes some of these theories testable, including some observationally inconsistent ones. However, they are not rejectable qua inconsistent by this criterion. These results, while opening the domain of scientific theories to inconsistent ones, challenge the prospects of dialetheism in the philosophy of science.

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Publication Details

Journal
Logic and Logical Philosophy
Published
2025-05-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.12775/llp.2025.011
Primary Topic
Philosophy and History of Science
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Can We Test Inconsistent Empirical Theories?

Luis Felipe Bartolo Alegre
Logic and Logical Philosophy
Philosophy and History of Science
article

Can We Test Inconsistent Empirical Theories?

Luis Felipe Bartolo Alegre
article en

Abstract

Despite the logical possibility and alleged existence of inconsistent empirical theories, the problem of their testability remains largely unexplored. I develop a testability criterion which makes some of these theories testable, including some observationally inconsistent ones. However, they are not rejectable qua inconsistent by this criterion. These results, while opening the domain of scientific theories to inconsistent ones, challenge the prospects of dialetheism in the philosophy of science.

Logic and Logical Philosophy
National University of San Marcos (PE), Munich School of Philosophy (DE), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Openalex Percentile: Top 84%
Philosophy and History of Science
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