Can We Test Inconsistent Empirical Theories?

Despite the logical possibility and alleged existence of inconsistent empirical theories, the problem of their testability remains largely unexplored. I develop a testability criterion which makes some of these theories testable, including some observationally inconsistent ones. However, they are no...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:	Logic & Logical Philosophy Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 501 - 546
Autor principal:	Bartolo Alegre, Luis F.
Formato:	Artículo
Publicado:	Logic & Logical Philosophy Dec2025
Materias:	Inconsistency (Logic) Philosophy of science Falsification Nonclassical mathematical logic Scientific models Empirical research
Acceso en línea:	Ver este registro en EBSCOhost

Descripción
Sumario:	Despite the logical possibility and alleged existence of inconsistent empirical theories, the problem of their testability remains largely unexplored. I develop a testability criterion which makes some of these theories testable, including some observationally inconsistent ones. However, they are not rejectable qua inconsistent by this criterion. These results, while opening the domain of scientific theories to inconsistent ones, challenge the prospects of dialetheism in the philosophy of science.