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(2019) Synthese 196 (2).
I argue that constructive nominalism is preferable to scientific realism. Rather than reflecting without distortion the way the mind-independent world is, theories refract. They provide an understanding of the world as modulated by a particular theory. Truth is defined within a theoretical framework rather than outside of it. This does not undermine objectivity, for an assertion contains a (perhaps tacit) reference to the framework in terms of which its truth is claimed.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/s11229-016-1114-0
Full citation:
Elgin, C. Z. (2019). Nominalism, realism and objectivity. Synthese 196 (2), pp. 519-534.
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