Is the Observational/Theoretical Distinction Negative or Favorable for Scientific Realism?

Abstract

According to Laudan, the scientific realist faces a paradox. On the one hand the realist needs the observational/theoretical distinction in order to define his own position but, on the other, the dissolution of the distinction is favourable for his argumentation. My purpose here is to show that if two different dichotomies are distinguished within the observational/theoretical distinction (one between theoretical and non-theoretical terms and the other between observable and non-observable entities) the paradox dissolves, since we need the first distinction for the characterization of the realism, but for its argumentation the "dissolution" of the second one is enough.