Scientific realism as constructive empiricism: a methodology of interpretation of quantum mechanics

Abstract

Two conceptions of the contemporary philosophy of science are taken under consideration: scientific realism and constructive empiricism. Scientific realism presupposes 1) the conception of truth as the correspondence of knowledge to reality, 2) the real existence of entities postulated by a theory. The constructive empiricism puts forward the idea of empirical adequacy: science aims to give us the theories which are empirically adequate and acceptance of the theory involves as belief only that it is empirically adequate. To compare methodological resources of these two positions in the philosophy of science the problem of the interpretation of quantum mechanics is involved. As a methodological realization of scientific realism the ensemble interpretation of quantum mechanics is taken under consideration. K.Popper’s version of the ensemble interpretation of quantum mechanics is outlined along M. Jammer’s book on the history of the philosophy of quantum mechanics. As a contemporary version of the ensemble approach L.Ballentine’s book on quantum mechanics is mentioned. Van Fraassen’s version of the modal interpretation of quantum mechanics is taken under consideration to show a methodological realization of constructive empiricism.