When Empirical Success Implies Theoretical Reference: A Structural Correspondence Theorem |
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| Authors: | Schurz Gerhard |
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| Institution: | Philosophy Department, University of Duesseldorf Universitaetsstrasse 1, Geb. 23.21, D-40225 Duesseldorf, Germany |
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| Abstract: | Starting from a brief recapitulation of the contemporary debateon scientific realism, this paper argues for the following thesis:Assume a theory T has been empirically successful in a domainof application A, but was superseded later on by a superiortheory T*, which was likewise successful in A but has an arbitrarilydifferent theoretical superstructure. Then under natural conditionsT contains certain theoretical expressions, which yielded T'sempirical success, such that these T-expressions correspond(in A) to certain theoretical expressions of T*, and given T*is true, they refer indirectly to the entities denoted by theseexpressions of T*. The thesis is first motivated by a studyof the phlogiston–oxygen example. Then the thesis is provedin the form of a logical theorem, and illustrated by furtherexamples. The final sections explain how the correspondencetheorem justifies scientific realism and work out the advantagesof the suggested account. - Introduction: Pessimistic Meta-induction vs. Structural Correspondence
- The Case of the Phlogiston Theory
- Steps Towards a SystematicCorrespondence Theorem
- The Correspondence Theorem and ItsOntological Interpretation
- Further Historical Applications
- Discussion of the Correspondence Theorem: Objections and Replies
- Consequences for Scientific Realism and Comparison with OtherPositions
- 7.1 Comparison with constructive empiricism
- 7.2Major difference from standard scientific realism
- 7.3 Fromminimal realism and correspondence to scientific realism
- 7.4Comparison with particular realistic positions
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