A case study of the development of quantum field theory and of S-matrix theory, from their inceptions to the present, is presented. The descriptions of science given by Kuhn and by Lakatos are compared and contrasted as they apply to this case study. The episodes of the developments of these theories are then considered as candidates for competing research programs in Lakatos' methodology of scientific research programs. Lakatos' scheme provides a reasonable overall description and a plausible assessment of the relative (...) value of these two programs in terms of progressive and degenerating problem shifts. Also discussed are the roles of various types of models as they have been used in these areas of theoretical high-energy physics. (shrink)

In a number of essays published over the last decade or so, W. V. Quine has made some interesting suggestions concerning the ontology of theories. If I understand him correctly, one of his principal objects has been to formulate a criterion by means of which one can correctly decide what are the ontological commitments of any given theory. My aim in this paper is to reveal what I think are inadequacies in Quine's criterion and to indicate the direction in which (...) a proper formulation lies. (shrink)

Quine takes philosophy to be continuous with science. Proper philosophical method is scientific method applied self-consciously to problems more general than those ordinarily considered within a particular science. Science is self-conscious common sense; and philosophy is self-conscious science. In order to understand and answer a basic philosophical question such as "What exists?" we must know something of the results of particular sciences like physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, astronomy, and psychology. To learn what we can from these sciences is to do (...) philosophy of science; and for our purposes, "philosophy of science is philosophy enough.". (shrink)

I will pick out five philosophical theses which are central in Quine’s philosophy, investigate their relationships, discuss problems raised about their compatibility and show how they should be interpreted.