Single Idea 6780

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

Full Idea

There is anti-realism with regard to unobservable entities and the theories that purport to mention them, but the more plausible version attaches to theories concerning what laws of nature are.

Gist of Idea

Anti-realism is more plausible about laws than about entities and theories

Source

Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.4)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.138


A Reaction

This sounds right. I certainly find anti-realism about the entities of science utterly implausible. I also doubt whether there is any such thing as a law, above and beyond the behaviour of matter. Theories float between the two.