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Realism and the Value of Explanation

Andrews, Samuel John (2023) Realism and the Value of Explanation. The Philosophical Quarterly. ISSN 0031-8094

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Abstract

Dasgupta poses a serious challenge to realism about natural properties. He argues that there is no acceptable explanation of why natural properties deserve the value realists assign to them and are consequently absent of value. In response, this paper defines and defends an alternative non-explanatory account of normativity compatible with realism. Unlike Lewis and Sider, who believe it is sufficient to defend realism solely on realist terms, I engage with the challenge on unfriendly grounds by revealing a tu quoque. Dasgupta and anti-realists face a similar challenge to that directed against realism: one that not only undermines the objection to realism by legitimising non-explanatory normativity but leaves them facing a significant dilemma.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Andrews, Samuel JohnSJA980@student.bham.ac.uk0000-0002-0914-7928
Keywords: realism, anti-realism, naturalness, value, normativity, explanation, explanatory normativity, primitive normativity
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
General Issues > Values In Science
Depositing User: Unnamed user with email SJA980@student.bham.ac.uk
Date Deposited: 19 May 2023 12:11
Last Modified: 19 May 2023 12:11
Item ID: 22114
Journal or Publication Title: The Philosophical Quarterly
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1093/pq/pqad052
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1093/pq/pqad052
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
General Issues > Values In Science
Date: 2023
ISSN: 0031-8094
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22114

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