Scientific Realism in Particle Physics: A Causal Approach

by Matthias Egg

Overview

Particle physics studies highly complex processes which cannot be directly observed. Scientific realism claims that we are nevertheless warranted in believing that these processes really occur and that the objects involved in them really exist. This book defends a version of scientific realism, called causal realism, in the context of particle physics.

The first part of the book introduces the central theses and arguments in the recent philosophical debate on scientific realism and discusses entity realism, which is the most important precursor of causal realism. It also argues against the view that the very debate on scientific realism is not worth pursuing at all.

In the second part, causal realism is developed and the key distinction between two kinds of warrant for scientific claims is clarified. This distinction proves its usefulness in a case study analyzing the discovery of the neutrino. It is also shown to be effective against an influential kind of pessimism, according to which even our best present theories are likely to be replaced some day by radically distinct alternatives.

The final part discusses some specific challenges posed to realism by quantum physics, such as non-locality, delayed choice and the absence of particles in relativistic quantum theories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783110354393
Publisher:	De Gruyter
Publication date:	07/28/2014
Series:	Epistemische Studien / Epistemic Studies , #29
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	9.06(w) x 6.10(h) x 0.04(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Matthias Egg, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Table of Contents

Preface v

Part I The Recent Debate on Scientific Realism

1 Scientific Realism and Its Relation to Common Sense 3

1.1 Key Arguments Surrounding Scientific Realism 4

1.2 Scientific Realism without Common Sense Realism? 13

2 Entity Realism 19

2.1 From Theories to Entities 20

2.2 Is Manipulability an Adequate Criterion of Reality? 23

2.3 From Manipulation to Explanation 28

3 NOA and the Vices of the Realism Debate 33

3.1 In Defense of Interpretation 33

3.2 The Principle of Fairness 40

3.3 NOA, Entity Realism, and the Homely Line 44

Part II Causal Realism

4 Causal vs. Theoretical Warrant 49

4.1 Criterion 1: Non-redundancy 50

4.2 Criterion 2: Material Inference 54

4.3 Criterion 3: Empirical Adequacy 59

4.4 Causal Realism's Advantages over Entity Realism 62

5 Causal Warrant for the Neutrino: A Case Study 67

5.1 Bohr and Pauli on Beta Decay 67

5.2 The Impact of Fermi's Theory and the Need for Direct Detection 69

5.3 The Detection of the Neutrino by Reines and Cowan 72

6 The Problem of Unconceived Alternatives 79

6.1 Previous Attempts to Undermine the PUA 80

6.2 Causal Knowledge as a Criterion for the Realist 85

6.3 Causal Realism, Unconceived Alternatives, and the Atomic Hypothesis 92

III The Quantum Challenge

7 Causal Realism in the Context of Bell-Type Experiments 105

7.1 Bell-Experiments: Causal Warrant for Superluminal Causation 105

7.2 Causal Realism and Underdetermination in Quantum Mechanics 114

7.3 Some Experimental Constraints on Explanations for EPR 122

8 Delayed-Choice Experiments and the Metaphysics of Entenglement 137

8.1 Delayed Choice in the Double-Slit Experiment 139

8.2 The Quantum Eraser 140

8.3 Delayed-Choice Entanglement Swapping 145

9 Particle Physics without Particles? On Causal Realism in Quantum Field Theory 149

9.1 Against Localizability: Malament's Theorem and Its Generalizations 149

9.2 Against Countability: Unruh Effect and Interacting Fields 154

9.3 Defending Localizability and Countability 161

9.4 Concluding Remarks on Realism, Fundamentalism, and QFT 169

Bibliography 175

Index 187