A Delicate Balancing Act: Integrative Pluralism and the Pursuit of Unified Theories

Item Type Journal Article
Author Marcin Miłkowski
URL https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10699-024-09958-9
Rights 2024 The Author(s)
Pages 1-20
Publication Foundations of Science
ISSN 1572-8471
Date 2024-07-30
Extra Publisher: Springer
DOI 10.1007/s10699-024-09958-9
Accessed 2024-08-05 13:50:37
Library Catalog link.springer.com
Language En
Abstract This paper examines the interplay between integrative explanatory pluralism and the quest for unified theories. We argue that when grounded in virtues associated with satisfactory explanations, integrative pluralism exhibits an inherent instability stemming from the conflict between the demand for unity and the commitment to preserving a patchwork of disparate partial explanations. A case study in cognitive science illuminates the challenges of maintaining both systematicity and depth in explanations within this framework. While this instability does not render integrative pluralism fundamentally flawed, it stresses the importance of a diachronic analysis of scientific dynamics and norms. The conclusion highlights the continued value of integrative pluralism in interdisciplinary research programs, while emphasizing its role as a temporary rather than permanent approach.
Short Title A Delicate Balancing Act

Source: Publications

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