Can the best-alternative justification solve hume's problem? on the limits of a promising approach

Abstract

In a recent Philosophy of Science article, Gerhard Schurz proposes meta-inductivistic prediction strategies as a new approach to Hume's problem. This discussion examines the limitations of Schurz's approach. It can be proved that the meta-inductivistic approach does not work anymore if meta-inductivists have to face an infinite number of alternative predictors. With this limitation it remains doubtful whether the meta-inductivist can provide a full solution to the problem of induction. Copyright 2010 by the Philosophy of Science Association. All rights reserved.