[Iris] IVC Talk: Alexander Reutlinger (LMU) on "Why Strategic Science Skeptics Are Not “Modern-Day Galileos”. Debunking the Argument from Scientific Revolutions", March 20, 4.45pm

Dear all, our next speaker in the Philosophy of Science Colloquium organized by the Institute Vienna Circle is Alexander Reutlinger (LMU), who will give a talk on March 20, 4.45-6.15 pm. All are welcome! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Philosophy of Science Colloquium TALK: Alexander Reutlinger (LMU) WHY STRATEGIC SCIENCE SKEPTICS ARE NOT “MODERN-DAY GALILEOS”. DEBUNKING THE ARGUMENT FROM SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS Philosophy of Science Colloquium The Institute Vienna Circle holds a Philosophy of Science Colloquium with talks by our present fellows. Date: 20/03/2025 Time: 16h45 Venue: New Institute Building (NIG), Universitätsstraße 7, 1010 Wien, HS 3A Abstract: Strategic science skeptics criticize scientific claims solely to promote non-epistemic (for instance, political and economic) goals. Strategic science skeptics present arguments to support their criticisms of scientific claims. In this paper, I will analyze and debunk a neglected argument exploited by strategic science skeptics: the argument from scientific revolutions (aka the "Galileo gambit"). According to this skeptical argument, strategic science skeptics liken themselves to key figures in scientific revolutions throughout the history of science - in particular, to Galileo Galilei - in order to enhance the credibility of their own claims. In this talk, I will argue that the argument from scientific revolutions is not sound, because at least one of its premises (stating that skeptics are, like Galileo Galilei, revolutionary scientists) is false.