Anjan Chakravartty: Realism, Pragmatism, and the Metaphysics of Structure

Rotman Institute of Philosophy

13 Jun 201475:47

EducationalLearning

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TLDRThe speaker discusses the metaphysics of science, focusing on the compatibility of structuralism with causation. They explore different forms of structuralism, including eliminative and non-eliminative approaches, and the challenges they pose to traditional views of causality and ontology. The debate delves into the role of scientific realism and the potential for pragmatic attitudes towards unresolved metaphysical questions, suggesting that realism can coexist with an acceptance of underdetermination in scientific theories.

Takeaways

📚 The speaker is engaged in the metaphysics of science, exploring connections between science, philosophy, and metaphor.
🤝 Expresses honor and gratitude for the invitation to discuss among distinguished groups and individuals.
📈 Discusses the compatibility of structuralism with the concept of causation, a central debate in metaphysics and philosophy of science.
🔬 Questions whether structuralist approaches to subatomic particle ontology can align with the idea that causation is a fundamental aspect of reality.
💬 Introduces the idea of 'causal oomph', referring to the causal modality traditionally associated with objects and events.
🧠 Delves into the abstract level of the debate, considering realism about causation without specifying the nature of the causal relationship.
🎯 Suggests that the central question of the paper is whether structuralism is compatible with causation, using this as a case study.
🤔 Highlights the dilemmas faced in aligning structuralism with causality, leading to metaphysical challenges and the need for potentially contentious primitives.
🔄 Touches on the broader implications for scientific realism, questioning how much metaphysics is required to defend the plausibility of reality.
📉 Proposes a 'third way' for scientific realism that allows for a pragmatic attitude towards unresolved metaphysical questions, suggesting realism can coexist with a lack of definitive ontological answers.

Q & A

What is the main topic of discussion in the provided transcript?
-The main topic of discussion is the compatibility of structuralism with the concept of causation in the metaphysics of science, specifically in the context of subatomic ontology.
What does the speaker mean by 'metaphysics of science'?
-The 'metaphysics of science' refers to the exploration of the fundamental nature of reality and the world as understood through scientific theories and principles.
What are the two debates mentioned in the transcript that the speaker is focusing on?
-The two debates are about causation (whether it is part of the fabric of the world or just a concept) and subatomic ontology (whether we have warrant for belief in the system of particles described by modern physics).
What is the central question the paper aims to address?
-The central question is whether structuralism is compatible with causation, given the traditional views of causation and the ontological status of entities in structuralist approaches.
What is the speaker's stance on the role of causation in scientific conceptions?
-The speaker assumes that causation is something that can and should have a place in our best scientific conceptions of the world, including those derived from fundamental physics.
What is the speaker's view on the relationship between metaphysics and scientific realism?
-The speaker suggests that the relationship between metaphysics and scientific realism is collaborative and that metaphysical considerations can inform and be informed by scientific realism.
What is the dilemma the speaker discusses regarding the compatibility of causation with structuralism?
-The dilemma is that arguments for causal compatibility in the context of structuralism inevitably lead to the adoption of contentious ontological primitives, which results in a principled disagreement on how to describe the ontology of the department.
What does the speaker suggest as a possible way out of the dilemma?
-The speaker suggests a kind of 'realist pragmatism' as a way out, where realism about certain kinds of things is compatible with a more pragmatic attitude towards the fine-grained ontological status of unobservable entities.
What is the significance of the discussion on structuralism and causation for the broader debate on scientific realism?
-The discussion serves as a case study for the larger debate on scientific realism, particularly concerning whether resolving all metaphysical details is a requirement for scientific realism and how much metaphysics a scientific realist has to engage in to defend the plausibility of reality.
How does the speaker view the potential resolution of the dilemma through pragmatic realism?
-The speaker views pragmatic realism as a way to preserve scientific commitments while acknowledging the difficulty or potential impossibility of definitively resolving certain metaphysical questions based on current evidence.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Scientific Metaphysics

The speaker expresses honor and gratitude for the invitation to discuss scientific metaphysics, a field exploring the connections between science, philosophy, and metaphors. They mention a handout and the intention to exemplify the morals of their discussion through a case study on the metaphysics of science, focusing on the debates of causation and subatomic ontology within a structuralist approach.

05:02

🔍 Delving into Causation and Structuralism

The speaker addresses potential skepticism about the relevance of causation in modern physics, advocating for its importance in scientific conceptions. They introduce the idea of structuralism in fundamental physics, suggesting that structures should be causally empowered. The paragraph sets the stage for examining the compatibility of causation with structuralism, particularly in the context of subatomic particles.

10:02

🌐 Structuralism and Ontological Status

The speaker outlines the traditional metaphysical picture where entities have a non-derivative ontological status, and relations are derivative. Structuralism challenges this by suggesting that the properties and identities of entities depend on their relations within a structure. The paragraph delves into different forms of structuralism, including eliminative and non-eliminative variants, and their implications for the ontological home of causal modality.

15:03

💡 The Challenge of Causal Modality in Structuralism

The speaker discusses the challenges faced in locating causal modality within structuralist views, especially the metaphysical disorientation that arises from the downgrading of entities in favor of relations. They propose using the quest for causal compatibilism as a tool to explore the relationship between metaphysics and scientific realism, hinting at the dilemmas that will be explored in subsequent paragraphs.

20:04

🤔 The Metaphysical Puzzle of Causal Compatibilism

The speaker presents a dilemma regarding the compatibility of causation with structuralism. They suggest that arguments for causal compatibilism inevitably lead to a choice between accepting contentious ontological primitives or rejecting certain forms of structuralism. The paragraph highlights the principle disagreement that arises from this reasoning pattern.

25:06

🔄 Reflections on Scientific Realism and Metaphysics

The speaker reflects on the implications of the dilemma for scientific realism, questioning whether resolving metaphysical details is necessary for scientific realism. They propose a third way that allows realism to coexist with a pragmatic attitude towards fine-grained ontological questions, suggesting that realism can be maintained without definitive answers to metaphysical challenges.

30:08

🛑 Conclusion and Acknowledgment of Dilemmas

In conclusion, the speaker acknowledges the dilemmas faced in reconciling structuralism with the notion of causal modality. They suggest that while the dilemmas are serious, they do not necessarily undermine the plausibility of scientific realism. The speaker also hints at the broader phenomenon of people having a breaking point beyond which metaphysical questions become too abstract, indicating a transition from realism to pragmatism.

35:11

🤝 Open Discussion and Addressing Objections

The speaker opens the floor for discussion, acknowledging that there may be disagreements and objections to their characterization of structuralism and its challenges. They engage in a dialogue addressing specific points raised by the audience, such as the interpretation of eliminative structuralism and the potential for underdetermination in scientific theories, emphasizing the complexity and diversity of perspectives in the metaphysics of science.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Metaphysics of Science

The term 'Metaphysics of Science' refers to the philosophical study of the fundamental nature of reality and existence in the context of scientific understanding. It explores concepts that are more abstract than those typically studied in empirical sciences. In the video, this concept is central to the discussion, as the speaker delves into the relationship between scientific realism and metaphysical theorizing, particularly in the context of subatomic ontology and causation.

💡Causation

Causation is the relationship between cause and effect, where one event or state leads to or influences another. The video discusses the debate surrounding whether causation is an inherent part of the world's fabric or merely a conceptual tool without direct reference in reality. The speaker uses this concept to examine the compatibility of causation with structuralism in the metaphysics of science.

💡Subatomic Ontology

Subatomic Ontology pertains to the nature of existence at the subatomic level, focusing on the system of particles as described by modern physics. The script discusses whether there is sufficient warrant for belief in these subatomic particles or if a more skeptical attitude is appropriate. This concept is integral to the debate on the compatibility of structuralism with our understanding of causation.

💡Structuralism

Structuralism, in the context of this video, refers to an approach in the philosophy of science that emphasizes the importance of relations and structures over individual entities. The speaker explores different forms of structuralism, such as eliminative and non-eliminative structuralism, and their compatibility with the concept of causation, highlighting the challenges of locating causal modality within structuralist frameworks.

💡Realism

Realism, in this script, is the view that our best scientific theories accurately describe the world as it truly is, including unobservable entities like subatomic particles. The speaker discusses the challenges realism faces in the context of subatomic ontology and causation, particularly when considering the metaphysical implications of structuralism.

💡Ontological Status

Ontological Status refers to the nature of existence or being of an entity within a philosophical framework. The video script discusses the ontological status of entities and relations within the context of structuralism, questioning whether entities have an independent existence or whether their existence is dependent on their relations, as suggested by some structuralist approaches.

💡Eliminative Structuralism

Eliminative Structuralism is a position that denies the existence of entities in the traditional sense, suggesting that what we consider as entities are better understood as positions within a network of relations. The speaker uses this concept to explore the challenges it poses to the traditional understanding of causation and the need to reify relations to maintain causal efficacy.

💡Non-Eliminative Structuralism

Non-Eliminative Structuralism is a view that retains the existence of entities but considers their properties and identities to be dependent on their relations. The script discusses this concept in the context of the metaphysical challenges it presents for understanding causation, particularly the issue of extrinsic identity and the potential circularity or regress in identifying entities solely by their relations.

💡Causal Modality

Causal Modality refers to the potential or capacity of entities to engage in causal relationships. The video explores how different structuralist approaches affect the understanding of causal modality, questioning where and how it can be located within systems that may not recognize traditional entities as the primary loci of causation.

💡Pragmatism

Pragmatism is an approach that emphasizes the practical application and usefulness of ideas over strict adherence to theoretical principles. In the context of the video, the speaker suggests a pragmatic attitude towards metaphysical theorizing, particularly when faced with underdetermination and the challenges of defining the fine-grained ontology of unobservable entities.

Highlights

The speaker expresses honor and gratitude for the invitation to discuss the metaphysics of science among esteemed company.

A handout is circulated for reference, though not enough for everyone, emphasizing the need for sharing and accessibility in the virtual space.

The speaker's work is categorized under the metaphysics of science, exploring connections between science, philosophy, and metaphor.

A case study approach is used to exemplify the morals of the discussion on the metaphysics of science.

The central question of the paper is the intersection of causation and subatomic ontology debates in metaphysics and philosophy of science.

Causation is discussed at an abstract level, assuming a generic realism and exploring it as a potential fabric of the world.

Subatomic ontology focuses on structuralist approaches, questioning the compatibility of structuralism with causation.

The speaker outlines the traditional views of causation, emphasizing the role of objects and events as the locus of causal modality.

Assumptions about the reality of causation in physics are explored, despite common beliefs that it may be alien to modern physics.

The idea that structures should be causally empowered is presented, suggesting a compatibility with the idea of causation.

The speaker proposes using the quest for causal compatibilism as a tool to explore the relationship between metaphysics and scientific realism.

Structuralism in science taxonomy is discussed, focusing on the metaphysical natures of members of developing categories.

The ontological status of particles and their properties is questioned, especially in the context of fundamental physics.

The speaker argues against suspending belief in particles, advocating for realism based on the viability criteria of realism.

Structuralism is presented as an attempt to reorient the ontological status of entities and relations, reversing traditional metaphysical dependence.

Eliminative and non-eliminative structuralism are introduced as two camps within structuralist thought, each with different implications for causation.

The challenges of locating causal modality within structuralism are discussed, leading to metaphysical dilemmas and the need for primitive notions.

The speaker concludes by suggesting a pragmatic approach to scientific realism, detaching it from the need to resolve all metaphysical questions.

The possibility of realist pragmatism is presented, allowing for a more flexible attitude towards the ontological status of scientific entities.

Transcripts

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Related Tags

Metaphysics Science Causality Structuralism Philosophy Debate Particles Ontology Realism Puzzle