Closer to the Target: A Meta-theory of Scientific Progress

Abstract The contemporary debate over scientific progress is fragmented into four competing, independent approaches, making systematic comparison difficult. To resolve this, we propose a formal meta-theory of progress, within which the different approaches can be represented and compared. Generalizing the formal core of truthlikeness theory, we develop a neutral meta-theory of “target-likeness.” We demonstrate how to represent the competing approaches as alternative measures of target-likeness. We conclude by discussing the implications and applications of our theory both inside and outside the current debate on scientific progress.