A not-too-simple solution to Goodman's new riddle of induction in the age of AI

TL;DR

This paper proposes an elegant solution to Goodman's new riddle of induction by integrating concepts of model complexity and direct measurements, emphasizing the scientific nature of philosophy, especially relevant in the AI era.

Contribution

It combines ideas from Gärdenfors and Scorzato to clarify the riddle, highlighting the importance of understanding model assumptions and measurements together in philosophy of science.

Findings

The solution is based on understanding philosophy as a science.

Combining complexity and measurement clarifies the riddle.

The approach is especially relevant in the age of AI.

Abstract

I review the works of G\"ardenfors (1990) and Scorzato (2013) and show that their combination provides an elegant solution of Goodman's new riddle of induction. The solution is based on two main ideas: (1) clarifying what is expected from a solution: understanding that philosophy of science is a science itself, with the same limitations and strengths as other scientific disciplines; (2) understanding that the concept of complexity of a model's assumptions and the concept of direct measurements must be characterized together. Although both measurements and complexity have been the subject of a vast literature, within the philosophy of science, essentially no other attempt has been made to combine them. The widespread expectation, among modern philosophers, that Goodman's new riddle cannot be solved is not defensible without a serious exploration of such a natural approach. A clarification of this riddle has always been very important, but it has become even more crucial in the age of AI.