# Instrumentalism The view that the purpose of a scientific theory is to **predict** the outcomes of experiments. An instrumentalist views [Explanations](Explanations.md) as mere psychological props. This view is *false*. The importance of the associated explanation of a theory can be seen clearly in [The World is a High Tech Oracle](The%20World%20is%20a%20High%20Tech%20Oracle.md) argument. The reason that instrumentalism is superficially plausible is that prediction is part of the characteristic *method* of science. The [Scientific Method](Poppers%20Scientific%20Method.md) involves postulating a new theory to explain some class of phenomena and then performing a *crucial experimental test*. This is an experiment for which the old theory predicts one observable outcome and the new theory predicts another. The theory whose predictions turn out to be false is then rejected. Thus, when using a crucial experimental test to decide between two theories it *does* depend on the theories predictions - *not* their explanations! However, experimental testing is not the only process involved in the growth of scientific knowledge. The overwhelming majority of theories are rejected because they contain *bad explanations*, not because they fail experimental tests. --- Date: 20240705 Links to: [Fabric of Reality](Fabric%20of%20Reality.md) [Positivism](Positivism.md) [Poppers Scientific Method](Poppers%20Scientific%20Method.md) Tags: References: * Pg 3, [The Fabric of Reality](The%20Fabric%20of%20Reality.pdf)