Liu, Chuang (2018) Infinte Idealization and Contextual Realism. Synthese. ISSN 1573-0964
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Abstract
The paper discusses the recent literature on abstraction/idealization in connection with
the \paradox of infinite idealization." We use the case of taking thermodynamics limit
in dealing with the phenomena of phase transition and critical phenomena to broach
the subject. We then argue that the method of infinite idealization is widely used
in the practice of science, and not all uses of the method are the same (or evoke the
same philosophical problems). We then confront the compatibility problem of infinite
idealization with scientific realism. We propose and defend a contextualist position
for (local) realism and argue that the cases for infinite idealization appear to be fully
compatible with contextual realism.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Keywords: | idealization, abstraction, infinite, realism, contextual | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Condensed Matter General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics |
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| Depositing User: | Chuang Liu | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 13 Apr 2018 16:48 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 13 Apr 2018 16:48 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 14554 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Synthese | ||||||
| Publisher: | Springer (Springer Science+Business Media B.V.) | ||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Physics > Condensed Matter General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Physics General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism Specific Sciences > Physics > Statistical Mechanics/Thermodynamics |
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| Date: | 2018 | ||||||
| ISSN: | 1573-0964 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14554 |
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