Partial structures and the logic of Azande
- Autores: Steven French
- Localización: Principia: an international journal of epistemology, ISSN-e 1808-1711, Vol. 15, Nº. 1, 2011, págs. 77-105
- Idioma: portugués
- Enlaces
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Resumen
In Science and Partial Truth (da Costa and French 2003) it was argued that inconsistencies in scientific reasoning may be accommodated by the combination of partial structures and quasi-truth, together with a notion of �representational belief�. In this paper1 I shall examine whether this framework can be extended to the reasonings and beliefs of other cultures, focusing in particular on the witchcraft beliefs of Azande. I shall argue that these beliefs are akin to the theoretical beliefs of Western science but that the most appropriate way of representing the latter � and hence also the former � is via the framework of partial structures and quasi-truth. In this way I hope to steer a plausible path between �imperialist� and �relativist� approaches.
