Skip to content
Carmelics
TopicsThinkersChangesContributorsLoading account…

    Carmelics

    A reasoning platform. Break down any belief into clear reasons, explore both sides, and weigh the evidence honestly.

    Navigate

    • Topics
    • Search
    • Recent Changes
    • Contribute
    • How It Works
    • Glossary
    • Thinkers
    • Contributors
    • About
    • Statistics
    • Terms
    • Privacy

    Database

    Statements
    —
    Perspectives
    —
    Topics
    —

    Press ? for keyboard shortcuts

    LoyalLoyalJusticeJustice
    Made withinDC&Austin
    Statements
    321,452
    Perspectives
    108,905
    Topics
    42
    If realist commitment is cashed out in structural rather ... — Carmelics
    Home
    HistoryEditSee Inverse

    Part of a larger discussion

    Challenges→The worry raised by Laudan's argument can be rephrased in terms of the mistaken ontologies of past theories from later perspectives

    If realist commitment is cashed out in structural rather than entity terms, mistaken ontologies of past theories do not constitute refutations of realism.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Past theories often preserved structural relationships even when entity claims proved false (e.g., Newtonian to relativistic gravity).
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.Structural realism avoids the problem of explaining why false entity ontologies should undermine confidence in scientific method itself.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.If reality's fundamental nature is relational/structural rather than substance-based, then entity errors don't threaten realist claims.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Distinguishing preserved 'structures' from abandoned 'entities' requires independent criteria—unclear without ontological commitment to something.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 2.If structures are abstract patterns, realism about them seems weaker than traditional entity realism and closer to instrumentalism.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    • 3.Past theories' structural claims were often wrong too (e.g., caloric fluid's causal role in heat transfer), so structure-ontology immunity is overstated.
      ?

      Think about whether this reason is strong or weak

    Sign in or register to share your perspective on this statement.

    Next step

    Based on where you are in your exploration

    Strongest counterpoint
    Explore the most compelling reason on the other side.

    Connections

    2 topics

    Truth & Knowledge1 linkedSkepticism1 linked

    Related

    Distinguishing preserved 'structures' from abandoned 'entities' requires indepen...If reality's fundamental nature is relational/structural rather than substance-b...If structures are abstract patterns, realism about them seems weaker than tradit...Past theories often preserved structural relationships even when entity claims p...
    +3 moreShow less
    Past theories' structural claims were often wrong too (e.g., caloric fluid's cau...Structural realism avoids the problem of explaining why false entity ontologies ...The worry raised by Laudan's argument can be rephrased in terms of the mistaken ...

    Details

    Type
    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
    Edits
    1 edit