4 Dec
2025
4 Dec
'25
2:14 p.m.
*THIS LECTURE WILL BE HYBRID **–** LIVESTREAM ON YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/live/ve8gDL30_KU*
The Institute Vienna Circle and the Vienna Circle Society cordially
invite you to the
*33^rd Vienna Circle Lecture*
*Lydia Patton (Virginia Tech)*
Testing Scientific Theories
*Thursday, December 11, 2025**
*5 pm**
Aula am Campus
University of Vienna
Hof 1, Eingang 1.11
Spitalgasse 2-4
1090 Vienna
Registration for the event in Vienna: vcs(a)univie.ac.at
<mailto:vcs@univie.ac.at>
No registration fee
Abstract
What scientists call 'post-data analysis' is often considered to
be a purely statistical process separate from theory. Data
gathered from experiment is analyzed to determine whether the
experiment yields a genuine result. Scientific theories are more
often associated with earlier phases of scientific testing, as in
Popper's account based on framing bold conjectures before setting
up experiments and gathering data. This talk will motivate an
account of scientific theory testing that incorporates not just
hypothesis generation and experiment, but also post-data analysis.
Theories provide essential frameworks for post-data analysis, by
setting standards for measurement and inference, for instance.
Theories are truly tested in the post-data phase as well. I draw
on insights from Hermann Cohen, Ernst Cassirer, and Rudolf Carnap
regarding the clarification and interpretation of scientific
theories in the context of the 'fact of science'. Moving beyond
these accounts, I argue that evaluating theories in the context of
existing results is crucial not just to interpreting theories, but
to testing them as well. Drawing on Adam Koberinski's account of
generalized frameworks in physics, I develop an account of theory
testing that incorporates post-data analysis. The perhaps
surprising consequence is that, under the right conditions, one
can test a theory even with old results.
Short Bio
Lydia Patton is Professor of Philosophy at Virginia Tech. Patton's
research focuses on the development of scientific theories, methods, and
practices, and has appeared in venues including /The Monist, Synthese,
Kant-Studien, Historia Mathematica, /and /Studies in History and
Philosophy of Modern Physics. /Patton has served as Editor in Chief of
/HOPOS /and currently edits two book series/. /In 2022 she was John N.
Findlay Visiting Professor at Boston University.
As part of the conference
*The Form of Science – Philosophy of Science in neo-Kantianism*
/December 10-12, 2025/
/University of Vienna – Main Building/
Organized by:
Georg Schiemer and Moritz Bodner (University of Vienna, ERC Project:
“The Formal Turn – The Emergence of Formalism in Twentieth-Century Thought”)
https://formalism.phl.univie.ac.at/events/international-conference-the-form…