cognitive-copernicanism
The idea that later scientific developments need not be lesser than earlier ones, reflecting a non-hierarchical view of cognitive progress.
1 chapter across 1 book
Epistemology: An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (2003)Nicholas Rescher
This chapter explores the dynamics of scientific progress through the lens of the exploration model of inquiry, emphasizing the increasing demand for data enhancement and the technological escalation in scientific endeavors. It discusses the inductive nature of theorizing, the principle of least effort guiding simplicity preference, and the complexification and expansion of natural science, while addressing the deceleration of progress and the imperfectability of knowledge as an idealized concept. The chapter also highlights the conditions and limitations of perfected science, framing it as a useful contrast rather than an attainable endpoint.