PhilSci Archive

On Physics, Metaphysics, and Metametaphysics

Arenhart, Jonas R. B. and Arroyo, Raoni Wohnrath (2021) On Physics, Metaphysics, and Metametaphysics. Metaphilosophy, 52 (2). pp. 175-199. ISSN 1467-9973

[img] Text
ArenhartArroyo2021-Metaphilosophy.pdf

Download (259kB)

Abstract

Nonrelativistic quantum mechanics (QM) works perfectly well for all practical purposes. Once one admits, however, that a successful scientific theory is supposed not only to make predictions but also to tell us a story about the world in which we live, a philosophical problem emerges: in the specific case of QM, it is not possible to associate with the theory a unique scientific image of the world; there are several images. The fact that the theory may be compatible with distinct ontologies, and that those ontologies may themselves be associated with a plurality of metaphysical approaches, gives rise to the problem of metaphysical underdetermination. This paper concludes that the available metametaphysical criteria fail to deliver objectivity in theory choice, and it puts forward its own criterion based on a tension between two methods of metaphysical inquiry: one that is closely related to science and another that is not.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Arenhart, Jonas R. B.jonas.becker2@gmail.cpm
Arroyo, Raoni Wohnrathrwarroyo@unicamp.br0000-0002-3800-8505
Keywords: metaphysics; metametaphysics; ontology; quantum mechanics; theory choice.
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Depositing User: Dr. Raoni Arroyo
Date Deposited: 18 Nov 2024 13:18
Last Modified: 18 Nov 2024 13:18
Item ID: 24240
Journal or Publication Title: Metaphilosophy
Publisher: Wiley
Official URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/meta.1...
DOI or Unique Handle: https://doi.org/10.1111/meta.12486
Subjects: General Issues > Scientific Metaphysics
Specific Sciences > Physics > Quantum Mechanics
Date: 2021
Page Range: pp. 175-199
Volume: 52
Number: 2
ISSN: 1467-9973
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24240

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Altmetric.com

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item