Central and East European
Society for Phenomenology

Repository | Journal | Volume | Article

235985

Metaphysical underdetermination

why worry?

Steven French

pp. 205-221

Abstract

Various forms of underdetermination that might threaten the realist stance are examined. That which holds between different ‘formulations’ of a theory (such as the Hamiltonian and Lagrangian formulations of classical mechanics) is considered in some detail, as is the ‘metaphysical’ underdetermination invoked to support ‘ontic structural realism’. The problematic roles of heuristic fruitfulness and surplus structure in attempts to break these forms of underdetermination are discussed and an approach emphasizing the relevant structural commonalities is defended.

Publication details

Published in:

Schurz Gerhard, Votsis Ioannis (2011) Scientific realism quo vadis?. Synthese 180 (2).

Pages: 205-221

DOI: 10.1007/s11229-009-9598-5

Full citation:

French Steven (2011) „Metaphysical underdetermination: why worry?“. Synthese 180 (2), 205–221.