Some reflections on Mitchell’s pragmatist variant of scientific realism

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Published 27-06-2023
Marta Bertolaso Fabio Sterpetti

Abstract

This article aims at discussing an interesting variant of scientific realism recently proposed and defended by Sandra Mitchell (forthcoming), namely an affordances-based and pragmatist variant of scientific realism. We firstly place Mitchell’s proposal in the context of the current state of the debate over scientific realism. Secondly, we summarize the salient features of Mitchell’s proposal. Thirdly, we point out some aspects of that proposal that might require some further refinement and clarification in order to make it less prone to criticisms by both realists and antirealists. More precisely, in this paper we address the following issues: 1) whether Mitchell’s proposal can be classified as a genuine form of scientific realism; 2) whether the fact that in Mitchell’s proposal figure some variants of the no miracle argument is in tension with some other of its features.

How to Cite

Bertolaso, M., & Sterpetti, F. (2023). Some reflections on Mitchell’s pragmatist variant of scientific realism . THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 38(3), 389–407. https://doi.org/10.1387/theoria.24085
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Keywords

Sandra Mitchell, pragmatism, scientific realism, robustness, truth, no miracle argument

Section
THE LULLIUS LECTURES