The Reality of the Unobservable

by Agazzi, Evandro; Pauri, Massimo

• ISBN13: 9780792363118
• ISBN10: 0792363116
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-10-01
• Publisher: Kluwer Academic Pub

Summary

The debate on realism in physics is usually focused on the reality of unobservable entities admitted in physical theories. This reality has been often denied (e.g., by Bas van Fraassen). The present book shows that observability is a very complex notion that does not really have direct implications on ontological issues related to the existence of the non-observable entities. This is shown through historical, philosophical and scientific considerations presented in the different parts of the book. Emphasis is also given to the role of experiments, measurement procedures and computer-analyzed data as interface between the theoretical and experimental cultures.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Observability and Scientific Realism	1	(7)
Evandro Agazzi
Massimo Pauri
Section Summaries	8	(23)
HISTORY
The Origin of Scientific Realism: Boltzman, Planck, Einstein	31	(14)
Erhard Scheibe
GENERAL PHILOSOPHY, SCIENTIFIC REALISM
Observability and Referentiality	45	(14)
Evandro Agazzi
A new Approach to Human Cognition and its Significance for the Philosophy of Science	59	(28)
Paul M. Churchland
Abduction and Non-Observability - Some Examples from Language Science and the Cognitive Science	87	(26)
Jean P. Descles
`Scientific Realism' and Scientific Practice	113	(10)
Roberto Torretti
Random Philosophy	123	(6)
Peter Galison
Formal Representation and the Subjective Side of Scientific Realism	129	(8)
Mario Casartelli
Convention and Observability - Poincare once again	137	(8)
Gerhard Heinzmann
Scientific Realism, Objectivity, and `Technological Realism'	145	(8)
Ramon Queralto
PHILOSOPHY OF OBSERVATION
Testability and Empiricism	153	(12)
Dudley Shapere
Observing the Unobservable	165	(12)
Jan Faye
What does it Mean to Observe Physical Reality?	177	(14)
Giovanni Boniolo
Realism, and the Case of Rival Theories without Observable Differences	191	(16)
Alberto Cordero
Measurability, Computability and the Existence of Theoretical Entities	207	(12)
Mauro Dorato
Observation, Construction and Speculation in Cosmology	219	(12)
Jesus Mosterin
Where did the Notion that Forces are Unobservable come from?	231	(10)
Mark Wilson
PHILOSOPHY OF QUANTUM THEORY
Quantum Mechanics without the Observables	241	(10)
Nancy Cartwright
Observation, Contextuality and Realism	251	(6)
Bernard D'Espagnat
Leibniz, Kant and the Quantum - A Provocative Point of View about Observation, Space-Time, and the Mind-Body Issue	257	(26)
Massimo Pauri
Efficient and Final Causes as CPT Reciprocals	283	(10)
Olivier Costa De Beauregard
SPECIFIC ISSUES OF OBSERVABILITY IN QUANTUM THEORY
Observability and Realism in Modern Experiments with Correlated Quantum Systems	293	(18)
Charles P. Enz
Quantum Mechanics, Realism and the Ultimate Observer	311	(6)
Bernulf Kanitscheider
Individualistic and Statistical Interpretation of Quantum Mechanics	317	(12)
Peter Mittelstaedt
How to Observe Quarks	329	(14)
Brigitte Falkenburg
Common Experience and Quantum Theory - Observables and Beables	343	(10)
Giovanni M. Prosperi
On the Relationships between Classical and Quantum Mechanics	353
Enrico G. Beltrametti
Slawomir Bugajski