Moving Molecules Above the Scientific Horizon: On Perrin's Case for Realism

This paper aims to cast light on the reasons that explain the shift of opinion— from scepticism to realism— concerning the reality of atoms and molecules in the beginning of the twentieth century, in light of Jean Perrin's theoretical and experimental work on the Brownian movement. The story to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for general philosophy of science 2011-11, Vol.42 (2), p.339-363
Main Author: Psillos, Stathis
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atomism
Atoms
Book publishing
Brownian motion
Education
Gases
History
Kinetic theory
Liquids
Metaphysics
Methodology of the Social Sciences
Molecules
Ostwald, Wilhelm
Perrin, Jean
Phenomena
Philosophy
Philosophy of Education
Philosophy of Science
Physical theory
Social Sciences
SPECIAL SECTION: SCIENTIFIC REALISM - AFTER THE CLASSICAL DEBATE
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Summary:This paper aims to cast light on the reasons that explain the shift of opinion— from scepticism to realism— concerning the reality of atoms and molecules in the beginning of the twentieth century, in light of Jean Perrin's theoretical and experimental work on the Brownian movement. The story told has some rather interesting repercussions for the rationality of accepting the reality of explanatory posits. Section 2 presents the key philosophical debate concerning the role and status of explanatory hypotheses 1900, focusing on the work of Duhem, Stallo, Ostwald, Poincaré and Boltzmann. Section 3 examines in detail Perrin's theoretical account of the molecular origins of Brownian motion, reconstructs the structure and explains the strength of Perrin's argument for the reality of molecules. Section 4 draws three important lessons for the current debate over scientific realism.
ISSN:0925-4560
1572-8587
DOI:10.1007/s10838-011-9165-x