Document Type
Journal article
Source Publication
Philosophy of Science
Publication Date
12-1-2011
Volume
78
Issue
5
First Page
1200
Last Page
1211
Publisher
University of Chicago Press
Abstract
This article develops a new version of instrumentalism, in light of progress in the realism debate in recent decades, and thereby defends the view that instrumentalism remains a viable philosophical position on science. The key idea is that talk of unobservable objects should be taken literally only when those objects are assigned properties (or described in terms of analogies involving things) with which we are experientially (or otherwise) acquainted. This is derivative from the instrumentalist tradition insofar as the distinction between unobservable and observable is taken to have significance with respect to meaning.
DOI
10.1086/662267
Print ISSN
00318248
E-ISSN
1539767X
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2011 by the Philosophy of Science Association
Access to external full text or publisher's version may require subscription.
Additional Information
Paper presented at the Meeting of the Philosophy-of-Science-Association (PSA), Nov 04-06, 2010, Montreal, Canada.
Full-text Version
Pre-print
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Rowbottom, D. P. (2011). The instrumentalist’s new clothes. Philosophy of Science, 78(5), 1200-1211. doi: 10.1086/662267
