Scientific realism and quantum theory

On the status of the ‘unobservables’

Bibliographic Data

ID21159757
AuthorsArunima Chakraborty (0000-0001-5436-8423, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume22
Issue3
Pages445-466
Publication date2023-05-27
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Critical Realism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1476-7430 • E-ISSN: 1572-5138
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14767430.2023.2217051
OpenAlexW4380787519
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited16

Scientific realism does not view theoretical terms as mere instruments of experimental predictions; it grants referential status to natural kind terms with 'epistemic access' and view scientific theories and terms as corresponding to physical phenomena and entities which exist independently of observation, and as thereby being the source of objective -approximate and not absolute- knowledge of the physical realm. As a result, scientific realism is accused of ontologising the unobservables. Against this charge, scientific realism posits the idea of the dialectical relation between theoretical terms referring to the unobservables and scientific methods. The second argument made by realism is the ‘no miracle’ thesis. These arguments stand challenged by the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. The aim of the paper is to examine the relevance of the two arguments of scientific realism in countering the idea that the existence of quantum states in the microphysical world renders realism obsolete

Direct and indirect realism · Epistemology · Metaphysics · Miracle · Philosophical realism · Political science · Realism · Realm · Scientific realism · Scientific theory · Law · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Science and Climate Studies

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