Accepting Quote by Larry Laudan
“The rationale for accepting or rejecting any theory is thus fundamentally based on the idea of problem-solving progress. If one research tradition has solved more important problems than its rivals, then accepting that tradition is rational precisely to the degree that we are aiming to "progress," i.e., to maximize the scope f solved problems. In other words, the choice of one tradition over its rivals is a progressive (and thus a rational) choice precisely to the extent that the chosen tradition is a better problem solver than its rivals.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Progress and Its Problems, 1977
Theory choice is justified by its problem‑solving success; the more problems a tradition solves, the more rational it is to adopt.
In simple terms: Choose theories that solve more problems.
Key Takeaway
Prefer problem‑solving effective theories.
Themes
philosophy
science
rationality
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- research funding decisions
- policy making
- academic curriculum design
Key Concepts
problem solving
theory choice
scientific progress
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria beyond problem solving should guide theory choice?
- How to balance tradition vs innovation?
A Different Perspective
Complex problems may be unsolvable by any single tradition.
![“The important question is whether [a theory] is true, not whether envisioning an alternative is too intellectually painful to bear.” quote by J. D. Trout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7e3/j-d-trout-244354_alternatives_the-important-question-is-whether-a-theo_1949342.jpg)
