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.
... and in brief, a speaker must always aim at verisimilitude, and send the truth packing.
Departamento de Linguistica, Lógica, e Historía y Filosofía de la Ciencia, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Campus de Cantoblanco, 208049, Madrid, Spain
I want to express my gratitude to Professors García-Bermejo, Niiniluoto, and Zofío for interesting comments and critiques of several of the ideas in this paper, and to Miss Karen Firnich for correcting my English. I am also thankful to an anonymous referee who indicated several ‘dark’ points on a previous version of my article.
