Realism-Antirealism Slides

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van Fraassen’s antirealism:Constructive empiricism

van Fraassen’s antirealism:Constructive empiricismIf I accept a theory,

I believe the claims it makes about

observables are true.

If I accept a theory, I believe the claims

it makes about observables are true.Claims theory makes about unobservables

could be false.

Claims theory makes about unobservables

could be false.


Detectable with unaided

senses.

Detectable with unaided

senses.

Observable:

Observable:

• some observables may not have been observed.• some things would be observable if they existed.

• some observables may not have been observed.• some things would be observable if they existed.


Not detectable with unaided

senses.

Not detectable with unaided

senses.

Why aren’t crobes

observable?

Why aren’t crobes

observable?

What you see: consequences of arrangement of

instrument + sample

What you see: consequences of arrangement of

instrument + sample


Duhem:Observations with instruments assume

theory of the measuring device

Duhem:Observations with instruments assume

theory of the measuring devicearrangement of

instrument + sample

arrangement of instrument +

sample

observables

(seen through lens)

observables

(seen through lens)

unobservables (causing what

is seen)

unobservables (causing what

is seen)

??


Accepting a theory

Accepting a theoryRealist:

I believe all the claims the theory makes are true.Antirealist:I believe the claims the theory makes makes about observables are true.

Realist:I believe all the claims the theory makes are true.Antirealist:I believe the claims the theory makes makes about observables are true.


Hacking’s middle position:

Hacking’s middle position:

“Entity Realism”: I believe all the entities the theory identifies really exist,

but some of the claims the theory makes about them may be false.

“Entity Realism”: I believe all the entities the theory identifies really exist,

but some of the claims the theory makes about them may be false.


Hacking:Microscopes tell us something is there, but may not show us

just what that something is like.

Hacking:Microscopes tell us something is there, but may not show us

just what that something is like.


What a microscope gives:

Map of the interaction between

specimen and imaging radiation.

What a microscope gives:

Map of the interaction between

specimen and imaging radiation.


Features vs. artefacts:Features vs. artefacts:Features observed from sample using different types of radiation

Features observed from sample using different types of radiationdue to real

features of sample

due to real features of sampleFeatures observed from one

type of radiation different using many different samples

Features observed from one type of radiation different using many different samplesdue to

instrumentdue to instrument


Entity Realism: Entity Realism: We can believe that what we see with the microscope is caused by really existing entities.

We can believe that what we see with the microscope is caused by really existing entities.Why? Because we can manipulate those entities!Why? Because we can manipulate those entities!

Chiharas’ mitesChiharas’ mites


Hard-core antirealist:Hard-core

antirealist:• Claims the mites exists (they’re observable).• Can’t know whether the mites have legs or not!• Can’t explain changes in movement in terms of leg-removal!

• Claims the mites exists (they’re observable).• Can’t know whether the mites have legs or not!• Can’t explain changes in movement in terms of leg-removal!

Realism-Antirealism Slides

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