The Ontological Status of Theoretical Entities

The author argues that the entities referred to by scientific theories are not just convenient fictions, but have a real existence.

The author finds it incongruous to believe that the entities referred to by scientific theories are just convenient fictions, or that talk about them can be translated into talk about sense contents or everyday physical objects.

Bohr and Heisenberg are mentioned as physicists who hold instrumentalist views.

<p>Professor Ernest Nagel concludes that the opposition between realist and instrumentalist views of theories is a conflict over preferred modes of speech.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main conflict between realist and instrumentalist views is the question of which mode of speech is preferred when talking about theories.</p> Signup and view all the answers