Single Idea 4711

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism]

Full Idea

The anti-realist says we have theories about the world that are incompatible with each other, and irreducible to each other. They often cite wave-particle duality, which postulate incompatible properties to reality.

Clarification

Quantum theory says electrons are both waves and particles

Gist of Idea

Anti-realists say our theories (such as wave-particle duality) give reality incompatible properties

Source

Paul O'Grady (Relativism [2002], Ch.3)

Book Reference

O'Grady,Paul: 'Relativism' [Acumen 2002], p.59


A Reaction

Most physicists, of course, hate this duality, precisely because they can't conceive how the two properties could be real. I say realism comes first, and the theories must try to accommodate that assumption.