Meaning and validity of physical theories

pp. 116-144

in: Herbert Feigl, Inquiries and provocations, Berlin, Springer, 1981

Abstract

We have sketched the most important theories of physics. All we said in the introductory chapter about the nature of theory and of physical laws in general can now be explored in more detail and more broadly. The group of problems which we are going to investigate more exhaustively in the present chapter deals with the meaning and validity of physical theories.