Mind Chat
Cat Gillen: Do Electrons Exist?
Nov 27, 2023
Cat Gillen, philosopher of science doctoral candidate, discusses the debate between realists and instrumentalists in the philosophy of science, focusing on the existence of electrons. They explore historical experiments, evidence, and theories surrounding electrons, as well as the implications in various scientific fields. They also touch on the challenges faced by realists in proving their theories and the existence and reality of human thoughts.
01:12:23
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Quick takeaways
- The podcast discusses the debate between scientific realism and instrumentalism, with the no miracles argument supporting realism and the view that theories are tools for prediction supporting instrumentalism.
- The podcast examines the challenges of astrobiology, particularly the n equals one sample size dilemma, and highlights the limitations of current methods for detecting signs of life in exoplanets.
Deep dives
Interpreting scientific realism and instrumentalism
There is a discussion about scientific realism and instrumentalism in the philosophy of science. The no miracles argument is presented as support for realism, suggesting that the success of scientific theories implies that they accurately represent reality. However, instrumentalists argue that theories are merely tools for making predictions and do not necessarily correspond to the true nature of the world. The question of whether scientists should engage in philosophical inquiry and the role of philosophy in science is also explored.
