A Rosa multiflora by Any Other Name: Taxonomic Incommensurability and Scientific Kinds

Author: McDonough J.K.

Source: Synthese, Volume 136, Number 3, September 2003 , pp. 337-358(22)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

The following paper attempts to explore, criticize and develop Thomas Kuhn's most mature – and surprisingly neglected – view of incommensurability. More specifically, it focuses on (1) undermining an influential picture of scientific kinds that lies at the heart of Kuhn's understanding of taxonomic incommensurability; (2) sketching an alternative picture of scientific kinds that takes advantage of Kuhn's partially developed theory of disciplinary matrices; and (3) using these two results to motivate revisions to Kuhn's theory of taxonomic incompatibility, as well as, to the purported bridge between taxonomic incompatibility and some of the traditional problems associated with incommensurability.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: University of California, Irvine Department of Philosophy, 220-HOB 2 Irvine, CA 92697-4555 U.S.A. E-mail: jkmcdonou@uci.edu

Publication date: 2003-09-01