Talk:Quasi-empirical method

{{WikiProject banner shell|

}}

Problems with this text:

::Hard scientists are also concerned with the reliability of these methods to some degree, but only in fields (e.g. string theory) where direct experimental invalidation (i.e. finding counter-examples) is difficult or impossible. In such circumstances a scientist falls back on the same quasi-empirical methods as mathematicians.

At best there needs to be another example. It's not difficult or impossible to experimentally falsible string theory. String theory makes (or at least should make) some easily testable predictions about the universe.

:Agree other applications need to be spelled out; otherwise this article might as well be merged with the "in mathematics" article. A quick search seems to show relatively limited applications, but they seem to exist; see for example [https://www.jstor.org/stable/1397922 here] and [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15944361/ here]. I don't know enough about the topic to come up with a list anywhere near exhaustive, though I'm not 100% sure that's necessary for an article this size. Crmccull000 (talk) 01:59, 18 June 2025 (UTC)

Not necessary to produce all counterexamples

Added a bullet to note that the requirement to find all counterexamples to kill a theory is unnecessary. One counterexample suffices. Thus the argument in scientific method that science is really quasi-empirical is suspect.169.207.90.10 07:46, 15 Oct 2003 (UTC)

The point on Albert Einstein is uncited, misleading, and quite arguably false. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 50.154.56.136 (talk) 01:18, 29 August 2014 (UTC)

What basis does this have?

Is this a school of thought or what? There are no citations.

(1) Reading this together with "quasi-empiricism in mathematics", it appears that the (by themselves very interesting) questions of sociology of mathematics and mathematical practice are supposed to "achieve epistemology similar to that of empiricism" for mathematics.

I don't think that's what they are supposed to do or can do!

(2) Reading the article directly, we learn that thought experiments are supposed to "achieve epistemology similar to that of empiricism" for their subjects.

This seems very doubtful.

Both of these inferences seem very doubtful, or at least pretty watery, as philosophical claims.

So, if someone reputable wrote the claims in a book, or if there is a school of thought that makes such claims, that's encyclopedic.

But with no citations, I guess the only way I can find out what is meant here in this article is to come to your livingroom and have a long, rambling conversation.

89.217.26.56 (talk) 10:59, 12 April 2015 (UTC)

Article is redundant with [[Quasi-empiricism in mathematics]]

The only source cited here says

Hilary Putnam [14] and Imre Lakatos [11] {{tq| proposed the term “quasi-empirical” to characterize non-deductive methods of discovery and validation in mathematics. The term was taken from Euler, via P ́olya.}} Lolli, G. (2008). Experimental methods in proofs. In deduction, Computation, Experiment: Exploring the Effectiveness of Proof (pp. 65-79). Milano: Springer Milan.

Thus the topic is mathematics and the remaining content here is WP:OR Johnjbarton (talk) 15:27, 23 June 2025 (UTC)

:Redirect done. I will go to Wikipedia:RFD in anyone questions it. Ldm1954 (talk) 17:34, 23 June 2025 (UTC)