Allzén, Simon (2021) Scientific Realism and Empirical Confirmation: a Puzzle. [Preprint]
 | There is a more recent version of this item available. |
|
Text
Scientific_Realism_and_Empirical_Confirmation__a_Puzzle.pdf Download (291kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Scientific realism driven by inference to the best explanation (IBE) take the empirically confirmed objects in science to exist, independent, pace empiricism, of whether the objects are observable or not. This kind of realism, it has been claimed, does not need probabilistic reasoning with respect to the claim that these objects exist and are real. In this paper, I show that there are scientific contexts in which a non-probabilistic IBE-driven realism leads to a puzzle. Since there is no reason why IBE could not be applied in scientific contexts in which empirical confirmation has not yet been reached, this implies that realists are forced to be committed to the existence of empirically unconfirmed objects. As a consequence of such commitments, because they lack probabilistic features, the possible empirical confirmation of those objects are epistemically redundant with respect to realism.
| Export/Citation: | EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL |
| Social Networking: |
| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Creators: |
|
||||||
| Keywords: | Scientific realism, Theory Confirmation, Dark Matter, Inference to the Best Explanation, Theoretical Virtues, Non-Empirical Theory Confirmation | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Confirmation/Induction Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Evidence General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
||||||
| Depositing User: | Dr Simon Allzén | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 01 Mar 2021 03:56 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 01 Mar 2021 03:56 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 18757 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Confirmation/Induction Specific Sciences > Physics > Cosmology General Issues > Evidence General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism |
||||||
| Date: | 20 January 2021 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18757 |
Available Versions of this Item
-
Scientific Realism and Dark Matter: Conflicts In Theory Confirmation. (deposited 20 Jan 2021 14:37)
- Scientific Realism and Empirical Confirmation: a Puzzle. (deposited 01 Mar 2021 03:56) [Currently Displayed]
Monthly Views for the past 3 years
Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years
Plum Analytics
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
![[feed]](http://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/style/images/feed-icon-32x32.png){kind=icon}