Structural Realism, Scientific Change, and Partial Structures

Abstract. Scientific change has two important dimensions: conceptual change and structural change. In this paper, I argue that the existence of conceptual change brings serious difficulties for scientific realism, and the existence of structural change makes structural realism look quite implausible. I then sketch an alternative account of scientific change, in terms of partial structures, that accommodates both conceptual and structural changes. The proposal, however, is not realist, and supports a structuralist version of van Fraassen's constructive empiricism (structural empiricism).

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2008
• Where: SLOGICA
• Authors: Otávio A. S. Bueno
• Keywords: Conceptual Change, Scientific Change, SLOGICA 2008, Structural Changes