Scientific Realism in Particle Physics

A Causal Approach

Bibliographic Data

ID6565016
AuthorsMarcus Egg (0000-0002-9422-2610, corresponding author), Matthias Egg
Year2014
Pages200
Publication date2014-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeBOOK
VenueScientific Realism in Particle Physics (SOURCE_BOOK)
PublisherDe Gruyter (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1515/9783110354409
OpenAlexW2296173149
Open LibraryOL29205470M, OL34498153M
ISBN9783110354393, 9783110354409
LanguageEN
Citations received6

Particle physics studies highly complex processes which cannot be directly observed. Scientific realism claims that we are nevertheless warranted in believing that these processes really occur and that the objects involved in them really exist. This book defends a version of scientific realism, called causal realism, in the context of particle physics. The first part of the book introduces the central theses and arguments in the recent philosophical debate on scientific realism and discusses entity realism, which is the most important precursor of causal realism. It also argues against the view that the very debate on scientific realism is not worth pursuing at all. In the second part, causal realism is developed and the key distinction between two kinds of warrant for scientific claims is clarified. This distinction proves its usefulness in a case study analyzing the discovery of the neutrino. It is also shown to be effective against an influential kind of pessimism, according to which even our best present theories are likely to be replaced some day by radically distinct alternatives. The final part discusses some specific challenges posed to realism by quantum physics, such as non-locality, delayed choice and the absence of particles in relativistic quantum theories

Epistemology · Particles (nuclear physics · Physics · Realism · Scientific realism · Theoretical physics · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Quantum Mechanics and Applications · Matter · Particles (Nuclear physics) · Quantum theory · Science

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