1. Van Fraassen’s Critique of Scientific Realism
Kareem Khalifa
Department of Philosophy
Middlebury College

2. Overview Background Theory-Observation ‘Dichotomy’
No Miracles Argument

3. 1. Background
1.1. What realism is not
1.2. Realism defined

4. 1.3. Constructive Empiricism
Two (overlapping) possibilities:
Science aims to be true, but only once properly (but not literally) construed.
The language of science should be literally construed, but its theories need not be true to be good.
I choose the second option, and dub it CONSTRUCTIVE EMPIRICISM (CE).

5. Differences between the two antirealisms
Option 1 (non-literal construals of theories): the quark theory doesn’t really say that quarks exist.
Rather statements like “Quarks exist” are useful fictions for theory construction, instruments for organizing data and prediction, etc.
CE: the quark theory says that quarks exist, but it would still be a good theory even if quarks didn’t exist.

6. Constructive Empiricism
Science aims to give us theories which are empirically adequate; and acceptance of a theory involves as belief only that it is empirically adequate. (1069)
Contrast with realism: Science aims to give us, in its theories, a literally true story of what the world is like; and acceptance of a scientific theory involves the belief that it is true.

7. 2. The Theory-Observation Dichotomy
2.1. Maxwell: Reminders
2.2. M2 & Mediation
2.3. Mutation

8. 3. Inference to the Best Explanation (IBE)
3.1. No Miracles
3.2. Smart’s 1st Objection

9. 3.3. Smart’s 2nd Argument

10. 3.4. Sellars’ Thought Experiment
Two samples of gold dissolve in aqua regia (nitrohydrochloric acid) at different rates; scientists posit some unobservable factor to explain this.

11. Recap
Scientific realism is the view that scientific theories aim for truth, and acceptance involves the belief that it is true.
Constructive empiricism is the view that theories aim for empirical adequacy, and acceptance involves belief in empirical adequacy + commitment
There are two kinds of argument for scientific realism:
The critique of the theory-observation distinction
The use of IBE
Each argument for scientific realism can be challenged.