Delhotel, Jean-Michel (2009) Can Structure Save Scientific Realism? [Preprint]

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Abstract

Physics appears to be in a unique position to withstand antirealist attacks, especially ‘pessimistic induction’ arguments. Such resilience provides an incentive for embracing a ‘structural’ variant of scientific realism. Nevertheless, an examination of the physics-mathematics relationship suggests that whatever determines the success of modelling endeavours lends scant support to structural realism. A closer look at conceptual prerequisites of joint ab initio derivations of (i) Galilean and ‘special’ relativity theories and (ii) classical and ‘quantal’ probabilistic frameworks also fosters scepticism about a major claim of structural realists: that mathematical features of theoretical frameworks – those, in particular, which determine their predictive efficiency – are ultimately rooted in ‘structural’ aspects of the natural world. Further concerns with the central tenets of structural realism are finally briefly addressed, and the question of possible non-instrumentalist alternatives is raised.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Delhotel, Jean-Michel
Additional Information:	This document has been removed at the request of the author.
Keywords:	Structural Realism pessimistic induction structure physical theories
Subjects:	General Issues > Structure of Theories Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Theory Change
Depositing User:	Dr Jean-Michel Delhotel
Date Deposited:	12 Apr 2010
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2014 18:28
Item ID:	5308
Subjects:	General Issues > Structure of Theories Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Theory Change
Date:	October 2009
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5308

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