👉 The Nancy Project, initiated by Nancy Cartwright in the 1980s, is a significant contribution to the field of logic and scientific methodology, particularly in the realm of scientific modeling and inference. It challenges traditional logical positivist views by arguing that scientific theories are not merely logical constructs but are instead grounded in empirical regularities and probabilistic reasoning. Cartwright introduced the idea of "partial truth," suggesting that scientific statements can be true to varying degrees depending on the context and available evidence. This approach emphasizes the role of context, background knowledge, and the practical success of theories in explaining phenomena, rather than strict logical or formal validity. The Nancy Project has influenced debates on scientific realism, the nature of scientific explanation, and the interpretation of probabilistic models in various sciences.
