Theoretical terms and the ontic structural realism

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2009

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Kaya, Nevzat

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The main purpose of the present study is to show that scientific realism is still worth advocating despite its vulnerability in the face of anti-realist objections. For, it does not seem possible to ‘do science’ without realist commitments. The second purpose of this study is to investigate the plausibility of the novel versions of realism in the sense that whether they can satisfactorily respond to the anti-realist objections. Regarding the main purpose, I try to show that theoretical terms are neither reducible to observables nor they can be dispensed with. Hence in scientific theories there always remains a metaphysical part. Regarding the second purpose I discuss ontic structural realism which holds the individualistic attributions responsible for the metaphysical parts in theories and suggests that non-individualistic interpretation of theoretical terms is possible. The legitimacy of Ontic structural realism’s suggestion, as its advocates claim, lies within quantum facts.

Subject Keywords

Philosophy., Structural Realism.

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http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12611415/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/19265

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Graduate School of Social Sciences, Thesis

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Citation Formats

N. Kaya, “Theoretical terms and the ontic structural realism,” M.S. - Master of Science, Middle East Technical University, 2009.