The Tangle

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter, we offer three different arguments to support our claim that a virtuous tangle is a symptom of scientific reliability and is conductive to it. First, standard theories of confirmation presuppose tangles of the kind we advocate. Second, standard post hoc analyses of the failure of scientific endeavours generally find as part of the reason for failure that something from the tangle that should have been there was missing or faulty. Third, the more numerous and well-defined are the other pieces that a scientific creation must work with to achieve a goal, the fewer options there are about what it must be like. Finally, we provide a fuller account of what we mean by a tangle, what should be in a tangle for it to merit the label ‘virtuous’, and why that could make for reliability.