Experimental Realism Defended: How Inference to the Most Likely Cause Might Be Sound

Suarez, Mauricio (2005) Experimental Realism Defended: How Inference to the Most Likely Cause Might Be Sound.

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Abstract

On a purely epistemic understanding of experimental realism, manipulation affords a particularly robust kind of causal warrant, which is – like any other warrant – defeasible. I defend a version of Nancy Cartwright’s inference to the most likely cause, and I conclude that this minimally epistemic version of experimental realism is a coherent, adequate and plausible epistemology for science.

Keywords:Causal Inference, Experimental Realism, Scientific epistemology
Subjects:General Issues: Causation
General Issues: Philosophers of Science
General Issues: Realism/Anti-realism
ID Code:2252
Deposited By:Suárez, Mauricio
Deposited On:07 April 2005
Additional Information:Forthcoming in L. Bovens and S. Hartmann (eds.), Nancy Cartwright's Philosophy of Science, Routledge.