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In [[Imre Lakatos]]'s theory of scientific change individual theories were encompassed in larger assemblages called research programs. A research program consists of a family of scientific theories containing 'hard core' assumptions, which are stubbornly defended, surrounded by a protective belt of associated auxiliary assumptions, which may be modified if needed to protect the hard core. Lakatos identified two epistemic stances with respect to research programs. They were either ''progressive'' or ''degenerating''. A research program was ''progressive'' if its theories successfully predicted hitherto unexpected facts.It was degenerating if it failed to make such predictions, and if its theories were fabricated in order to accommodate already known facts. [[CiteRef::Lakatos (1978)]]
[[Larry Laudan]]'s reticulated model of scientific change involved scientific theories, scientific methods, and scientific values, all interdependent. Methods could change along with theories, and thus epistemic agents could take stances with respect to them both.Laudan distinguished between the ''pursuit'' and ''acceptance'' of theories. To accept a theory, for Laudan, is to believe in its truth, and to pursue it is to work with it or explore it without committing to a belief that it is true. [[CiteRef::Godfrey-Smith (2003)]]
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