|
|
Showing 1 - 1 of
1 matches in All Departments
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.
|
|
Email address subscribed successfully.
A activation email has been sent to you.
Please click the link in that email to activate your subscription.