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    Quine argued that ontological reduction via proxy functio... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Interpretability is a good criterion for fixing a comparison between theories T and T'

    Quine argued that ontological reduction via proxy functions shows interpretability preserves structure but not ontological equivalence.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    • 1.Proxy functions preserve logical relations and inferential patterns between entities even when ontologies differ fundamentally.
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    • 2.Two theories can be intertranslatable yet commit to different fundamental entities, showing structure alone doesn't determine what exists.
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    • 3.Quine's approach avoids collapsing the distinction between mathematical convenience and metaphysical truth about reality.
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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.If interpretability requires structure preservation, claiming non-equivalence becomes unclear—what makes ontologies genuinely different?
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    • 2.Quine himself emphasized indeterminacy of translation; proxy functions may not achieve the determinate equivalence this claim assumes.
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    • 3.The claim conflates translation-success with ontological claims, but preservation of structure arguably *is* what ontological equivalence means.
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    Truth & Knowledge1 linkedPhilosophy of Language1 linked

    Related

    If interpretability requires structure preservation, claiming non-equivalence be...Interpretability is a good criterion for fixing a comparison between theories T ...Proxy functions preserve logical relations and inferential patterns between enti...Quine himself emphasized indeterminacy of translation; proxy functions may not a...
    +3 moreShow less
    Quine's approach avoids collapsing the distinction between mathematical convenie...The claim conflates translation-success with ontological claims, but preservatio...Two theories can be intertranslatable yet commit to different fundamental entiti...

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    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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