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Confirmation and Explanation in Archaeology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Merrilee H. Salmon
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Abstract

In recent discussions by archaeologists who are committed to the scientific nature of archaeology, philosophic commitment to an excessively narrow view of “the scientific method” is common. These narrow conceptions can be broadened, clarified, and made more adequate without diminishing a commitment to scientific archaeology.

The hypothetico-deductive method of confirmation is an oversimplified account of scientific reasoning. There are severe limitations for its application, particularly in archaeology. The deductive-nomological model of scientific explanation likewise has serious drawbacks for explaining the sorts of phenomena which interest archaeologists. Understanding of the problems with this model is hampered by trying to force systems models of explanation into the deductive-nomological mold. Worse still, the separate issues of confirmation and explanation are not kept distinct.

Type
Comment
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 40 , Issue 4 , October 1975 , pp. 459 - 464
Copyright
Copyright © Society for American Archaeology 1975

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