Original scientific paper

“Let the Occult Quality Go”: Interpreting Berkley's Metaphysics of Science

Tom Stoneham ; University of York
Angelo Cei ; University of York

Abstract

Berkeley’s philosophy of science is normally interpreted as some form of anti-realism, usually instrumentalism or constructive empiricism. In this paper we identify a different strand in his thought about the metaphysics of science, a strand which can be interpreted as a form of structural realism. We begin by picking out this strand in Berkeley’s thought and then look in some detail at different forms of structural realism. While the parallels are striking, the motivations are very different indeed: Berkeley was motivated by an a priori philosophical metaphysical method whereas contemporary structural realists are motivated by a naturalistic method in metaphysics. The consequence is that Berkeley’s position is the more amenable to commonsense.

Keywords

Berkeley; idealism; immaterialism; philosophy of science; structural realism; ontology

Hrčak ID:

93384

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/93384

Publication date:

2.2.2009.

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