Demarcation-Acceptance Synchronism (Fraser-Sarwar-2018)

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This is an answer to the question Synchronism vs. Asynchronism of Demarcation and Acceptance that states "Every theory that becomes accepted satisfies the demarcation criteria employed at the time of acceptance."

Demarcation-Acceptance Synchronism theorem (Fraser-Sarwar-2018).png

Demarcation-Acceptance Synchronism was formulated by Patrick Fraser and Ameer Sarwar in 2018.1

Scientonomic History

Acceptance Record

This theory has never been accepted.

Suggestions To Accept

Here are all the modifications where the acceptance of this theory has been suggested:

Modification Community Date Suggested Summary Verdict Verdict Rationale Date Assessed
Sciento-2018-0020 Scientonomy 28 December 2018 Accept the demarcation-acceptance synchronism theorem. Open The modification can only become accepted once modifications Sciento-2018-0014 and Sciento-2018-0019 all become accepted.

Question Answered

Demarcation-Acceptance Synchronism (Fraser-Sarwar-2018) is an attempt to answer the following question: Is it the case that acceptance of a theory necessarily implies that the theory also satisfied the demarcation criteria employed at the time of acceptance?

See Synchronism vs. Asynchronism of Demarcation and Acceptance for more details.

Description

The law of theory demarcation states that a theory is deemed as scientific only if it satisfies the demarcation criteria employed by the epistemic community at the time. The definition of theory acceptance is that an accepted theory is a scientific theory that is taken to be the best available description or prescription of its object of study. It follows from here that whenever a theory is accepted, it must also have satisfied the demarcation criteria of the time. After all, it it did not, then the definition of theory acceptance is contradicted. Specifically, if an unscientific theory becomes accepted, then the definition of theory acceptance -- "...a scientific theory that is..." (emphasis added) -- is contradicted. Therefore, if the definition of theory acceptance and the law of demarcation criteria are correct, then it must be the case that accepted theories antecedently satisfy the criteria of demarcation. This demarcation-acceptance synchronism is presented somewhat more formally in the following diagram:

Demarcation-Acceptance Synchronism theorem deduction (Fraser-Sarwar-2018).png

Reasons

No reasons are indicated for this theory.

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Questions About This Theory

There are no higher-order questions concerning this theory.

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References

  1. ^  Fraser, Patrick and Sarwar, Ameer. (2018) A Compatibility Law and the Classification of Theory Change. Scientonomy 2, 67-82. Retrieved from https://scientojournal.com/index.php/scientonomy/article/view/31278.