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Related Experiment Video

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Task Interruption and Resumption Paradigm for Testing the Activation and Pursuit of an Abstract Thinking Goal

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Published on: April 18, 2017

The Problem-Ladenness of Theory.

Daniel Levenstein^1,2, Aniello De Santo³, Saskia Heijnen⁴

¹Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Monreal, QC Canada.

Computational Brain & Behavior

|July 16, 2026

Summary

Cognitive science needs new ways to choose and develop theories. This study proposes theoretical virtues as pragmatic heuristics to assess a theory's contribution to knowledge and problem-solving abilities.

Keywords:

Cognitive science Pragmatism Problems Scientific theories

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Perspectives on Neuroscience

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Published on: July 31, 2007

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Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Area of Science:

Cognitive Science
Philosophy of Science

Background:

Cognitive sciences require effective methods for selecting and developing theories.
Traditional theoretical virtues are insufficient for guiding theory development in these fields.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a pragmatic account of theoretical virtues.
To reframe theoretical virtues as heuristics for estimating a theory's contribution to knowledge and problem-solving capacity.

Main Methods:

Conceptual analysis of theoretical virtues.
Development of a pragmatic framework for evaluating scientific theories.

Main Results:

Theoretical virtues are reframed as heuristics for assessing problem space coverage and contribution to a field's knowledge.
Epistemic virtues like data fit and coherence are linked to problem space coverage.
New virtues emerge, emphasizing alignment with problem-having agents and societal context.

Conclusions:

A pragmatic account of theoretical virtues aids in understanding field-specific theory needs.
This approach facilitates the resolution of challenges in cognitive science through informed theoretical development.