Boddenberg, Nurida
(2023)
Igniting Realism- Where There’s
Signature, There’s Phenomenon.
[Preprint]
Abstract
This paper aims to establish and defend a realist position focused on scientific
phenomena, particularly in the context of particle physics. Building on insights
from scientific practice, the study addresses the limitations of previous realist po-
sitions and acknowledges the trend towards local realism. The primary objective
is to develop an inferential blueprint that integrates theoretical and ontological
layers, with a central focus on the concept of scientific phenomena. The frame-
work is based on bottom-up inferences, specifically identifying robust patterns
called ‘signatures,’ which can be inferred from the data and causally related to the
phenomenon, analogous to traces of smoke indicating fire. A phenomenon can be
stabilized bottom-up by utilizing multiple partially converging signatures, demon-
strating resilience even in the presence of theoretical changes. Theoretical models
can serve as a supportive structure atop this stable foundation, encouraging the
search for additional signatures
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