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    Quine's ontological relativity demonstrates that what cou... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→Material bodies (in a broad sense) are the basic items of reference.

    Quine's ontological relativity demonstrates that what counts as a 'basic' object of reference is always relative to a background theory, not an absolute metaphysical fact.

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    1 reason for
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    Reasons For

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    Reason for
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    • 1.Translation between theories with different ontologies (e.g., Aristotelian vs. Newtonian physics) remains meaningful, showing objects aren't theory-independent.
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    • 2.Scientific progress involves ontological shifts (phlogiston→oxygen, caloric→thermodynamics), suggesting 'basic objects' change with theoretical frameworks.
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    • 3.No theory-neutral observation language exists; all reference presupposes background assumptions, making absolute reference impossible.
      ?

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    Reasons Against

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    • 1.If reference were purely theory-relative, incommensurable theories couldn't address the same phenomena or be empirically compared against reality.
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    • 2.Physical objects (electrons, tables) retain identity conditions across theoretical frameworks; this continuity suggests theory-transcendent referents.
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    • 3.Ontological relativity paradoxically presupposes an absolute framework to make the claim; it's self-undermining if applied universally.
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    Related

    If reference were purely theory-relative, incommensurable theories couldn't addr...Material bodies (in a broad sense) are the basic items of reference.No theory-neutral observation language exists; all reference presupposes backgro...Ontological relativity paradoxically presupposes an absolute framework to make t...
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    Physical objects (electrons, tables) retain identity conditions across theoretic...Scientific progress involves ontological shifts (phlogiston→oxygen, caloric→ther...Translation between theories with different ontologies (e.g., Aristotelian vs. N...

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