Scientific Realism in Particle Physics : : A Causal Approach / / Matthias Egg.

• Superior document: Title is part of eBook package: De Gruyter DGBA Backlist Complete English Language 2000-2014 PART1
• VerfasserIn: Egg, Matthias,
• Place / Publishing House: Berlin ;, Boston : : De Gruyter, , [2014]; ©2014
• Year of Publication: 2014
• Language: English
• Series: Epistemische Studien / Epistemic Studies : Philosophy of Science, Cognition and Mind , 29
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (190 p.)

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.

Table of Contents

Frontmatter -- Preface -- Contents -- Part I: The Recent Debate on Scientific Realism -- 1 Scientific Realism and Its Relation to Common Sense -- 2 Entity Realism -- 3 NOA and the Vices of the Realism Debate -- Part II: Causal Realism -- 4 Causal vs. Theoretical Warrant -- 5 Causal Warrant for the Neutrino: A Case Study -- 6 The Problem of Unconceived Alternatives -- Part III: The Quantum Challenge -- 7 Causal Realism in the Context of Bell-Type Experiments -- 8 Delayed-Choice Experiments and the Metaphysics of Entanglement -- 9 Particle Physics without Particles? On Causal Realism in Quantum Field Theory -- Bibliography -- Index