Holismo semántico e inconmensurabilidad en el debate positivismo-antipositivismo

Abstract

According to the widespread interpretation, Kuhn’s philosophy of science confronts the core ideas held by logical empiricism, but this standard interpretation is objectionable. This paper attempts to show that two of the main components of Kuhn’s doctrine were clearly present in Carnap’s development: the incommensurability theory as well as the semantical holism on which that theory is founded —both of them permanently invoked by Kuhn along the road initiated in The Structure. There exists, however, some differences between the holistic conception Carnap embraced and that adopted by Kuhn, and this paper points out some of them. Finally, we try to evaluate the scope of the ontological commitments met by Carnap and by Kuhn.