Changes

====First Law: The Law of Scientific Inertia====

The ''[[The_First_Law|First Law]]'', also known as the ''Law of Scientific Inertia'' states that an element of the [[Scientific_Mosaic|scientific mosaic]] remains in the mosaic unless replaced by other elements. These elements include both [[Theory|theories]] and [[Method|methods]]. Replacement takes place in accordance with the [[The_Second_Law|Second]] and [[The Third Law|Third]] Laws [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 123-129]].

====Second Law: The Law of Theory Acceptance====

The ''[[The_Second_Law|Second Law]]'', also known as the ''Law of Theory Acceptance'' states that in order to become accepted into the [[Scientific_Mosaic|scientific mosaic]], a [[Theory|theory]] is assessed by the [[Method|method]] actually employed at the time[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 129-132]].

====Third Law: The Law of Method Employment====

The ''[[The_Third_Law|Third Law]]'', also known as the ''Law of Method Employment'' states that a [[Method|method]] becomes employed when it is deducible from some subset of other employed [[Method|methods]] and accepted [[Theory|theories]] of the time[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 132-152]].

====Zeroth Law: The Law of Compatibility====

The [[The_Zeroth_Law|''Zeroth Law'']], also known as the ''Law of Compatibility'' states that at any moment in time, the elements of the [[Scientific_Mosaic|scientific mosaic]] are compatible with one another. These elements include both [[Theory|theories]] and [[Method|methods]]. The compatibility criteria are part of the [[Method|method]] of the time [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 152-164]].

=== Theorems ===

=====Dogmatism theorem=====

No [[Theory|theory]] acceptance may take place in a genuinely dogmatic [[Scientific Community|community]]. Suppose a community has an accepted theory that asserts that it is the final and absolute truth. By the [[The Third Law|Third Law]] we deduce the method: accept no new theories ever. By the [[The Second Law|Second Law]] we deduce that no new theory can ever be accepted by the employed method of the time. By the [[The First Law|First Law]], we deduce that the accepted theory will remain the accepted theory forever[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 165-167]].

=====Theory rejection theorem=====

A [[Theory|theory]] becomes rejected only when other theories that are incompatible with the theory become accepted. By the [[The First Law|First Law]] for theories, an accepted theory will remain accepted until it is replaced by other theories. By the [[The Zeroth Law|Zeroth Law,]] the elements of the [[Scientific Mosaic|scientific mosaic]] must be compatible with one another. Thus, a theory can only become rejected when it is replaced by an incompatible theory or theories[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 167-172]].

=====Method rejection theorem=====

A [[Method|method]] ceases to be employed only when other methods that are incompatible with it become employed. By the [[The First Law|First Law]] for methods, an employed method will remain employed until it is replaced by other methods. By the [[The Zeroth Law|Zeroth Law]], the elements of the [[Scientific Mosaic|scientific mosaic]] must be compatible with one another. Thus, a method can only become rejected when it is replaced by an incompatible method or methods[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 172-176]].

=====Synchronism of method rejection theorem=====

A [[Method|method]] becomes rejected only when some of the [[Theory|theories]] from which it follows become rejected. By the method rejection theorem, a method is rejected when other methods incompatible with it become employed. By the [[The Third Law|Third Law]], this can happen only when some of the theories from which it follows are also rejected [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 177-183]].

====Contextual Appraisal====

[[Theory Acceptance|Theory assessment]] is an assessment of a proposed modification of the [[Scientific Mosaic|scientific mosaic]] by the [[Method|method]] employed at the time. By the [[The First Law|First Law]], a [[Theory|theory]] already in the mosaic is no longer appraised. By the [[The Second Law|Second Law]], it is only assessed when it first enters the mosaic[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|pp. 185-196]].

====Scientific Underdeterminism====

=====Underdetermined method change=====

The [[The Third Law|third law]] allows for two distinct scenarios of method employment. A [[Method|method]] may become employed because it follows strictly from accepted [[Theory|theories]] or employed methods, or it may the abstract requirements of some other employed method. This second scenario allows for creative ingenuity and depends on the technology of the times, therefore it may be fulfilled in many ways and allows underdeterminism [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 198]].

=====Underdetermined theory change=====

The process of [[Theory Acceptance|theory assessment]] under the TSC is underdetermined for two reasons. First, only [[Theory|theories]] that are constructed are available for assessment. Whether or not a theory is ever constructed is, at least partly a matter of creativity, and is therefore outside the scope of the TSC. Second, it is at least theoretically possible that a process of theory assessment will be inconclusive. This might be because the employed method of the time is vague, or because it involves multiple criteria, only some of which have been met [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)| p. 199-200]].

=====Underdeterminism of science=====

Taken together the theorem of underdetermined method change and the theorem of underdetermined theory change imply that scientific change is not a strictly deterministic process [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)| p. 201-202]].

====Mosaic Split and Mosaic Merge====

=====Necessary mosaic split=====

Necessary [[Scientific Mosaic|mosaic]] split is a form of mosaic split that must happen if it is ever the case that two incompatible [[Theory|theories]] both become accepted under the employed [[Method|method]] of the time. Since the theories are incompatible, under the [[The Zeroth Law|zeroth law]], they cannot be accepted into the same mosaic, and a mosaic split must then occur, as a matter of logical necessity [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 204-207]].

=====Possible mosaic split=====

Possible [[Scientific Mosaic|mosaic]] split is a form of mosaic split that can happen if it is ever the case that [[Theory|theory]] assessment reaches an inconclusive result. In this case, a mosaic split can, but need not necessarily, result [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 208-213]].

====Static and Dynamic Methods====

=====Dynamic substantive methods=====

The thesis of [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/certainty/ fallibilism] asserts that any [[Theory|theory]] referring to the empirical world is always vulnerable to rejection. The synchronism of [[Method|method]] rejection theorem, detailed above, asserts that a method becomes rejected only when some of the theories from which it follows are rejected. Therefore any method that follows from an empirical theory is always vulnerable to rejection. All substantive methods are therefore necessarily also dynamic [[Barseghyan (2015)|p. 223-224]].

=====Static procedural methods=====

The [[Method|method]] rejection theorem, detailed above, asserts that a method ceases to be employed when other methods incompatible with the method become employed. By definition, a necessary truth, or tautology, cannot be incompatible with other necessary or contingent truths. Thus, all procedural methods are also static [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 224-225]].

====Necessary Elements====

=====Non-empty mosaic theorem=====

The non-empty [[Scientific Mosaic|mosaic]] theorem asserts that in order for a process of [[Scientific Change|scientific change]] to be possible, the mosaic must necessarily contain at least one element. Scientific change is impossible in an empty mosaic. It can be deduced from the [[The Second Law|second law]], which asserts that in order to become accepted into the mosaic, a [[Theory|theory]] is assessed by the [[Method|method]] actually employed at the time, and the [[The Third Law|third law]], which asserts that a method becomes employed only when it is deducible from other employed methods and accepted theories of the time [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 226]].

=====Necessary method theorem=====

The necessary method theorem asserts that the necessary element required by the non-empty mosaic theorem must be a method. It can be deduced from the second law that in order for a new theory to become accepted, the mosaic must contain at least one employed method. It can be deduced from the third law that in order for a new method to become employed, the mosaic must contain at least one theory and one other employed method. Therefore the initial element could only be a method. Barseghyan [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 230]] suggests that the primordial method might be something extremely general and vague, such as 'accept only the best theories'[[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 228-233]].

====Sociocultural Factors====

The role of sociocultural factors as posited by the TSC can be deduced from the second law, which asserts that a theory will be accepted only when it satisfies the employed method of the times. Sociocultural factors can affect the process of theory acceptance insofar as it is permitted by the employed method of the time [[CiteRef::Barseghyan (2015)|p. 233-240]].

====The role of Methodology====

|Resource=Barseghyan (2015)

|Prehistory====Ludwik Fleck===