Scientific pluralism

Scientific pluralism is the view that some phenomena observed in science require multiple explanations to account for their nature. Pluralists observe that scientists present various—sometimes even incompatible—models of the world and argue that this is due to the complexity of the world and representational limitations.

Scientific pluralists argue that the pluralistic nature of the scientific process is a major factor in the rapid growth of knowledge. In turn, an increase in knowledge arguably leads to increased human welfare due to, for example, greater productivity, economic growth and better medical technology.

Bibliography

• Jeroen Van Bouwel, The consequences of scientific pluralism for science policy, Proceedings of V Jornadas Latinoamericanas de estudios sociales de la ciencia y de la tecnología, 2004
• Jeroen Van Bouwel, The plurality of epistemic interests in scientific understanding - exemplified in political science, In: Henk de Regt, Sabina Leonelli and Kai Eigner (eds.). Philosophical Perspectives on Scientific Understanding, Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press (forthcoming).
• Paul A. Bove, The Ineluctability of Difference: Scientific Pluralism and the Critical Intelligence, Boundary 2, Vol. 11, No. 1/2, Engagements: Postmodernism, Marxism, Politics, (Autumn, 1982 - Winter, 1983), pp. 155-176
• John Dupre, Scientific pluralism and the plurality of the sciences: Comments on David Hull's Science as a Process, Journal Philosophical Studies, Springer, Netherlands, ISSN 0031-8116 (Print) 1573-0883 Volume 60: 1-2, January, 1990 pp.61-76
• Kellert, Stephen H (Editor), and Longino, Helen E (Editor), and Waters, C Kenneth (Editor), Scientific Pluralism, University of Minnesota Press: 2006, ISBN 0-8166-4763-1 ISBN = 13-978-0-8166-4763-7 [1]
• Esther-Mirjam Sent, Please for Pluralism, post-autistic economics review, 18:5, February 2003 [2]