Modification:Sciento-2018-0014

Accept the law of demarcation as a new scientonomic axiom. Also accept questions concerning indicators of scientificity as legitimate topics of scientonomic inquiry.

The modification was suggested to Scientonomy community by Patrick Fraser and Ameer Sarwar on 28 December 2018.1 This modification presupposes the acceptance of Sciento-2018-0013. The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending.

Preamble

TODO: Add preamble

Modification

Theories To Accept

• The Law of Theory Demarcation (Sarwar-Fraser-2018): If a theory satisfies the demarcation criteria of the method employed at the time, it becomes scientific; if it does not, it remains unscientific; if assessment is inconclusive, the theory’s status can become scientific, unscientific, or uncertain.
• The Law of Theory Demarcation (Sarwar-Fraser-2018) is Not Tautological (Sarwar-Fraser-2018): The law of theory demarcation as formulated by Sarwar and Fraser in 2018 is not tautological.

Questions To Accept

• Indicators of Theory Scientificity: What are the historical indicators of a theory’s scientificity? How can observational scientonomists establish that such-and-such a theory was indeed considered scientific/unscientific by a certain epistemic agent at a certain time?
• Indicators of Conclusiveness for Scientificity Assessment: What are the historical indicators that an assessment by the demarcation criteria was conclusive or inconclusive? Does the lack of agreement or evidence count in favor of inconclusive assessment outcome?

Questions Answered

This modification attempts to answer the following question(s):

• Mechanism of Theory Demarcation: How do theories become scientific or unscientific?
• Tautological Status of The Law of Theory Demarcation (Sarwar-Fraser-2018): Is the law of theory demarcation as formulated by Sarwar and Fraser in 2018 a tautology?

Verdict

The workshop discussion of this modification (25.02.2023)

The modification is currently being evaluated; a verdict is pending. The modification can only become accepted once modification Sciento-2018-0013 becomes accepted.

Click on the Discussion tab for comments.