A Study Of Steven French's Ontic Structural Realism

The debate between scientific realism and anti-realism is the core topic in the research of philosophy of science.In order to meet the challenge of anti-realism,especially in order to solve the ontological discontinuity from Kuhn,realism accepts the defense strategy of structural realism.This paper elaborates how to addresses this issue in the three versions of structural realism,especially the ontic structural realism of Steven French.French's ontic structural realism emphasizes the influence of modern physics on traditional metaphysics and based on the argument of the underdetermination of individuality of quantum particles conclude that there are no solid individual objects,but the constant relations generalized by physical laws and principles which are set at the heart of the ontology.In a structural world where physical properties depend on the laws and symmetries,there is a hierarchy of relations.The ontic structural realism has received some success in solving the difficulties faced by scientific realism,it also highlights that the structure's physical nature is different from the mathematical structure.The gain of advantage,however,is at cost of giving up the ontology-entity,occupying important position in the philosophy of science.French's ontic structural realism eliminates the objective existence of entities,and replaces it completely by structure,which is questioned and criticized by other realisms.The critical points focus on several issues:the argument of the ontic structural realism is not enough to support itself;the relations without relata can't be understood;absence of relata also leads to the causality unexplained;the ontic structural realism leads to the collapse of distinction between physical and mathematical structure.From the perspectives of the main argument and the explanatory power of this position,ontic structural realism does not seem to be sufficiently convincing and creates more problems and troubles.