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EPISTEME 2008
El Dilema del realismo ExperimentalKeywords: experimental realism, scientific realism, causal inference. Abstract: according to experimental realists, even though it cannot be claimed that our best scientific theories are true, successful experimental manipulation entitles us to affirm that theoretical terms refer to entities which do exist. i distinguish two different interpretations of experimental realism. ian hacking endorses an anti-inferentialist view about unobservable entities. nancy cartwright and mauricio suárez favour an epistemological interpretation based on a privileged status for causal inference when compared to theoretical inference. i conclude that experimental realism must confront a dilemma: the anti-inferentialist view is not a promising position in the contemporary debate on scientific realism, while the epistemological one is unnecessary since it is not a view substantially different from scientific realism based on theoretical inference.
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