Hormone Research as an Exemplar of Underdetermination

Authors

P.D. Magnus, University at Albany, State University of New YorkFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-2005

DOI

10.1016/j.shpsc.2005.07.005

Abstract

Debates about the underdetermination of theory by data often turn on specific examples. Many cases are invoked often enough that they become familiar, even well-worn. Here I consider one such commonplace: the connection between prenatal hormone levels and gender-linked childhood behavior. Since Helen Longino's original discussion of this case a decade-and-a-half ago, it has become become one of the stock examples of underdetermination. However, the case is not genuinely underdetermined. We can easily imagine a possible experiment to decide the question. The fact that we would not perform this experiment is a moral, rather than epistemic, point. Further, I argue that Longino need not have appealed to 'underdetermination' to establish her central claim about the case.

Recommended Citation

Magnus, P.D., "Hormone Research as an Exemplar of Underdetermination" (2005). Philosophy Faculty Scholarship. 27.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/cas_philosophy_scholar/27