Why Strategic Science Skeptics Are Not “Modern-Day Galileos”. Debunking the Argument from Scientific Revolutions

Philosophy of Science Colloquium
The Institute Vienna Circle holds a Philosophy of Science Colloquium with talks by our present fellows.

Date: 20/03/2025

Time: 16h45

Venue: New Institute Building (NIG), Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Wien, HS 3A

Abstract:

Strategic science skeptics criticize scientific claims solely to promote non-epistemic (for instance, political and economic) goals. Strategic science skeptics present arguments to support their criticisms of scientific claims. In this paper, I will analyze and debunk a neglected argument exploited by strategic science skeptics: the argument from scientific revolutions (aka the “Galileo gambit”). According to this skeptical argument, strategic science skeptics liken themselves to key figures in scientific revolutions throughout the history of science – in particular, to Galileo Galilei – in order to enhance the credibility of their own claims. In this talk, I will argue that the argument from scientific revolutions is not sound, because at least one of its premises (stating that skeptics are, like Galileo Galilei, revolutionary scientists) is false.