Metaphysical implications of the quantum theory

Neal Grossman

pp. 605-623

in: Wesley C. Salmon (ed), Hans Reichenbach, Berlin, Springer, 1979

Abstract

I do not believe that there are philosophical questions as such, exempt from scientific treatment. If philosophy is to deal with problems of the structure of the world, it should abandon the idea of deriving this structure from an intuition alleged to be based on eternal truths. The philosophical truths of yesterday have become the errors of today. The philosopher who wants to contribute towards making the universe intelligible can aid the physicist only in searching for the correct form of a question, but not in searching for the answer. That is to say, his contribution will consist in a logical analysis of the problems which separate the physical content of a theory from the additions occurring in the form of definition, and which clarifies the meanings of terms instead of prescribing the ways of thought. (Italics mine.)