Truthlikeness without truth

A methodological approach

Jesús P. Zamora Bonilla

pp. 343-372

in: Synthese 93 (3), 1992.

Abstract

In this paper, an attempt is made to solve various problems posed to current theories of verisimilitude: (1) the (Miller's) problem of linguistic variance; (2) the problem of which are the best scientific methods for getting the most verisimilar theories; and (3) the question of the ontological commitment in scientific theories. As a result of my solution ot these problems, and with the help of other considerations of epistemological character, I conclude that the notion of ‘Tarskian truth’ is dispensable in a rational (and ‘realist’) interpretation of the scientific enterprise. As a logical result, however, falsificationism will be vindicated.