Underdetermination and Ontic Structural Realism
One of the most important arguments against scientific realism is underdetermination, so realists should address the argument satisfactorily and give an appropriate response to it. Underdetermination divides into holist and contrastive forms; in this article, we will only deal with the contrastive f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Tabriz, Faculty of Literature and Forigen Languages
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Philosophical Investigations |
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| Online Access: | https://philosophy.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_10629_2b3cbda1483932776c16ef7ff02b0f8f.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797723744986202112 |
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| author | Saeed Masoumi |
| author_facet | Saeed Masoumi |
| author_sort | Saeed Masoumi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the most important arguments against scientific realism is underdetermination, so realists should address the argument satisfactorily and give an appropriate response to it. Underdetermination divides into holist and contrastive forms; in this article, we will only deal with the contrastive form. By examining different responses, it will turn out that while they are successful in some cases, there are instances where responses are not satisfactory. Specifically, two formulations of Newtonian mechanics are examined and the examination reveals an important instance of underdetermination that cannot be accounted for by most responses. We argue that the appropriate option is ontic structural realism that can resolve the underdetermination. We also should emphasize that ontic structural realism is empirical and a posteriori, meaning that the truth of its claim must be examined on a case-by-case basis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:07:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-29b9c4f675d14caca428d809953f1251 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2251-7960 2423-4419 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T10:07:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Tabriz, Faculty of Literature and Forigen Languages |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Philosophical Investigations |
| spelling | doaj.art-29b9c4f675d14caca428d809953f12512023-09-02T11:07:02ZengUniversity of Tabriz, Faculty of Literature and Forigen LanguagesJournal of Philosophical Investigations2251-79602423-44192021-12-0115371027105110.22034/jpiut.2020.38918.252510629Underdetermination and Ontic Structural RealismSaeed Masoumi0Assistant Professor, Institute for Science and Technology Studies of Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.One of the most important arguments against scientific realism is underdetermination, so realists should address the argument satisfactorily and give an appropriate response to it. Underdetermination divides into holist and contrastive forms; in this article, we will only deal with the contrastive form. By examining different responses, it will turn out that while they are successful in some cases, there are instances where responses are not satisfactory. Specifically, two formulations of Newtonian mechanics are examined and the examination reveals an important instance of underdetermination that cannot be accounted for by most responses. We argue that the appropriate option is ontic structural realism that can resolve the underdetermination. We also should emphasize that ontic structural realism is empirical and a posteriori, meaning that the truth of its claim must be examined on a case-by-case basis.https://philosophy.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_10629_2b3cbda1483932776c16ef7ff02b0f8f.pdfunderdeterminationweak and strong underdeterminationsemantic realismepistemic realismempirical adequacyepistemic virtuesontic structural realism |
| spellingShingle | Saeed Masoumi Underdetermination and Ontic Structural Realism Journal of Philosophical Investigations underdetermination weak and strong underdetermination semantic realism epistemic realism empirical adequacy epistemic virtues ontic structural realism |
| title | Underdetermination and Ontic Structural Realism |
| title_full | Underdetermination and Ontic Structural Realism |
| title_fullStr | Underdetermination and Ontic Structural Realism |
| title_full_unstemmed | Underdetermination and Ontic Structural Realism |
| title_short | Underdetermination and Ontic Structural Realism |
| title_sort | underdetermination and ontic structural realism |
| topic | underdetermination weak and strong underdetermination semantic realism epistemic realism empirical adequacy epistemic virtues ontic structural realism |
| url | https://philosophy.tabrizu.ac.ir/article_10629_2b3cbda1483932776c16ef7ff02b0f8f.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT saeedmasoumi underdeterminationandonticstructuralrealism |