Mechanism of Scientific Inertia for Theories
What makes the theories of an agent's mosaic continue to remain in the mosaic?
It is important to understand what makes a theory that is already part of an agent's mosaic stay in that mosaic. In other words, it is important to know under what conditions such an inertia is possible.
In the scientonomic context, this question was first formulated by Hakob Barseghyan in 2015. The question is currently accepted as a legitimate topic for discussion by Scientonomy community.
In Scientonomy, the accepted answers to the question can be summarized as follows:
- An accepted theory remains accepted unless replaced by other theories.
- An element of the mosaic remains in the mosaic unless replaced by other elements.
Contents
Scientonomic History
Acceptance Record
| Community | Accepted From | Acceptance Indicators | Still Accepted | Accepted Until | Rejection Indicators |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientonomy | 1 January 2016 | This is when the community accepted its first answer to the question, The First Law (Barseghyan-2015), which indicates that the questions is itself considered legitimate. | Yes |
All Theories
| Theory | Formulation | Formulated In |
|---|---|---|
| The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-2015) | An accepted theory remains accepted unless replaced by other theories. | 2015 |
| The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-Pandey-2023) | An accepted theory remains accepted in the mosaic unless replaced by other elements. | 2023 |
If an answer to this question is missing, please click here to add it.
Accepted Theories
| Community | Theory | Accepted From | Accepted Until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientonomy | The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-2015) | 1 January 2016 |
Suggested Modifications
| Modification | Community | Date Suggested | Summary | Verdict | Verdict Rationale | Date Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sciento-2023-0002 | Scientonomy | 28 December 2023 | Accept new formulations of the first law for theories, norms, and questions that are in tune with the formulation of the first law. Also accept new formulations of the respective rejection theorems - theory rejection, norm rejection, and question rejection. | Open |
Current View
In Scientonomy, the accepted answers to the question are The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-2015) and The First Law (Barseghyan-2015).
The First Law for Theories (Barseghyan-2015) states: "An accepted theory remains accepted unless replaced by other theories."
According to this formulation of the first law for theories, an accepted theory remains accepted unless replaced by other theories, even though sometimes that replacement may simply be the negation of the theory. That is, "if for some reason scientists of a particular field stop pursuing new theories, the last accepted theory will safely continue to maintain its position in the mosaic," with no further confirmation of the theory required.1p. 122 There is no specification of what sort of theory might replace an accepted theory. Barseghyan notes that, in the most minimal case, a theory may simply be replaced by its own negation.1p. 122
Mechanism of Scientific Inertia for Epistemic Elements
The First Law (Barseghyan-2015) states: "An element of the mosaic remains in the mosaic unless replaced by other elements."
The following passage from The Laws of Scientific Change summarizes the gist of the law:
According to the first law, any element of the mosaic of accepted theories and employed methods remains in the mosaic except insofar as it is overthrown by another element or elements. Basically, the law assumes that there is certain inertia in the scientific mosaic: once in the mosaic, elements remain in the mosaic until they get replaced by other elements. It is reasonable therefore to call it the law of scientific inertia.1p. 123
Related Topics
This question is a subquestion of Mechanism of Scientific Inertia for Epistemic Elements.
It has the following sub-topic(s):
