Sam Mitchell

It is widely believed in philosophy of science that nobody can claim that any verdict of science is forced upon us by the effects of a physical world upon our sense organs and instruments. The Quine-Duhem problem supposedly allows us to resist any conclusion. Views on language aside, Quine is supposed to have shown this decisively. But it is just false. In many scientific examples, there is simply no room to doubt that a particular hypothesis is responsible for a refutation or established by the observations. Fault Tracing shows how to play independently established hypotheses against each other to determine whether an arbitrary hypothesis needs to be altered in the light of (apparently) refuting evidence. It analyses real examples from natural science, as well as simpler cases. It argues that, when scientific theories have a structure that prevents them from using this method, the theory looks wrong, and is subject to serious criticism. This is a new, and potentially far-reaching, theory of empirical justification.

A Defense of the Objectivity of Scientific Justification

Fault-Tracing: Against Quine-Duhem

Glenn McFarlane

With four premierships, 329 games and a Brownlow Medal, Sam Mitchell is a true AFL legend. Written off early as 'too short, too fat and too slow' to make the AFL, Sam's sharp football brain, keen instincts and relentless drive would make him a champion. He debuted for Hawthorn in 2002 and, by 2008, had captained the club to its first flag in 17 years. Three consecutive premierships followed for the Hawks in 2013-15, with Sam forming the lynchpin of the 'Team of the Century'. But on - and off - the field, Sam always kept people guessing. His candid autobiography answers the riddle of his unique enigma and takes us behind all the big moments of blood, sweat, tears and glory from a career that etched Sam's name into Australian Rules history as 'a player like no other'. RELENTLESS is an extraordinary book - as honest, original and entertaining as Sam Mitchell himself.

Sam Mitchell

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