Jim says
> On this analysis, the "theory" cannot be evaluated separately from the
> process that produces it. (We can distinguish them in discourse and
> thought, of course, but they do not as it were lead separate lives.)
The validation of a theory can *only* be evaluated separately from
the process that produces it - in my operational definition. The
validation of a theory is pragmatic. Does it produce better results
than its alternatives? Einstein became well known (read, paid
attention to) when he predicted the location of a star during a
coming eclipse and, in an expedition to South Amerca to test various
expectations, his was closer than those based on Newtonian and common
physics definitions (theories) of the times.
And, Jim, yesterady I was reviewing Plato with my philosopher mentor
and Plato says of the theories of what will turn out to be referred
to as his physics and of the physics of others "It is a likely
story".
-- Michael McMaster Michael@kbddean.demon.co.uk