Arthur Fine

Distinguished philosopher of science esteemed for work on the foundations of physics (particularly quantum mechanics)  and for his studies of Einstein. Also known for his formulation and defense of the Natural Ontological Attitude (NOA). His proposal is to transcend what he views as an unprofitable philosophical debate between scientific realists and scientific anti-realists. Typically, realists see themselves as defending the existence of entities that lie beyond the reach of ordinary observation (electrons, for example), while anti-realists suppose that putative references to such things should not be taken seriously. On his account, both sides of the dispute have lapsed into unfortunate metaphysics. Instead, he advises scientists and philosophers to take the language at face value, to use it in the everyday ways that practitioners do, without adding extra claims to the effect that the entities in question really exist. Avoiding metaphysics and acquiescing in practice constitute NOA. Philosophers with pragmatist sympathies have found his ideas and arguments extremely congenial, and, in his later work, he emphasized the connections with pragmatism. Past president of the American Philosophical Association (Central Division) and of the Philosophy of Science Association.