b. 1937
Arthur Fine is an American philosopher of science best known for his Natural Ontological Attitude (NOA), a stance that seeks to dissolve the realism/anti-realism debate. He has made significant contributions to the foundations of quantum mechanics and the philosophy of scientific realism, engaging critically with arguments like the no-miracles argument.
Developed the Natural Ontological Attitude (NOA) as an alternative to scientific realism and anti-realism
Proved Fine's theorem relating joint probability distributions to Bell inequalities in quantum mechanics
Extensive critical analysis of the no-miracles argument and inference to the best explanation
Influential work on the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen argument and quantum foundations
Long-tenured professor at the University of Washington
The no-miracles argument rests on the premise that scientific methodology is informed by approximately true background theories
premiseThe reliability of inference to the best explanation is precisely what the no-miracles argument is attempting to establish
premiseThe plausibility of the premise that scientific methodology is informed by approximately true background theories itself relies on an inference to the best explanation
claimThe no-miracles argument (that scientific methodology is reliable because it is informed by approximately true background theories) is circular
The reliability of inference to the best explanation is precisely what the no-miracles argument is attempting to establish
premiseThe plausibility of the premise that scientific methodology is informed by approximately true background theories itself relies on an inference to the best explanation
claimThe no-miracles argument (that scientific methodology is reliable because it is informed by approximately true background theories) is circular