• Philosophy -> Epistemology and Theory of Knowledge

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Can defeasibility be used to explain why some theories are eventually replaced by others?

Devon Heakey

Yes, we can use defeasibility to explain why some theories are eventually replaced by others.

Now, what is defeasibility? Well, defeasibility means that even if something seems true, it can still be proven false under certain circumstances.

Let's take an example to understand this better. In the past, people thought that the Earth was flat. It seemed true because when we look around, we don't see any curve or roundness. But then, as people started traveling and exploring more, they realized that the Earth is actually round.

So, the theory of the Earth being flat was defeated by new evidence that showed it was actually round. That's defeasibility at work!

The same happens with other theories too. Scientists come up with theories about how things work in the world. But as they discover new evidence, they might find that their old theories are no longer true.

For example, people used to think that the geocentric theory was true, which means that the Earth is at the center of the universe. But then, new evidence came to light that showed the heliocentric theory to be true, which means that the Sun is at the center of the solar system.

So, in conclusion, defeasibility is the idea that theories can be proven false, even if they seem true at first. As we discover new evidence and learn more, some theories may be replaced by others that better explain the world around us.