Rivat, Sébastien (2025) How Theoretical Terms Effectively Refer. [Preprint]
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Abstract
Scientific realists with traditional semantic inclinations are often pressed to explain away the distinguished series of referential failures that seem to plague our best past science. As recent debates make it particularly vivid, a central challenge is to find a reliable and principled way to assess referential success at the time a theory is still a live concern. In this paper, I argue that this is best done in the case of physics by examining whether the putative referent of a term is specifiable within the limited domain delineated by the range of parameters over which the theory at stake is empirically accurate. I first implement this selective principle into a general account of reference, building on Stathis Psillos's works. Then, I show that this account offers a remarkably reliable basis to assess referential success before theory change in the case of effective theories. Finally, I briefly show that this account still works well with other physical examples and explain how it helps us to handle problematic cases in the history of physical sciences.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | ||||||
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| Additional Information: | Forthcoming in Synthese | ||||||
| Keywords: | Effective Field Theories; Scientific Realism; Selective Realism; Reference; Theoretical Terms. | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Theory Change |
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| Depositing User: | Sébastien Rivat | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 10 Feb 2025 14:14 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 10 Feb 2025 14:14 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 24711 | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > History of Science Case Studies General Issues > Natural Kinds General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism General Issues > Reductionism/Holism General Issues > Theory Change |
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| Date: | 2025 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/24711 |
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