Unpicturable-in-principle: as partículas sob a ótica de N. R. Hanson

Abstract

The present work aims to elucidate, analyze, and exemplify Norwood Russell Hanson’s understanding of in principle unobservable entities, particularly the particles of modern physics. To accomplish this, firstly, the way the concept of observation occupies a logical space in his thinking is addressed, stemming from the influence of the linguistic turn. Next, the scientific discourse is discussed, based on its context of plausibility, as it defends an intelligible causality over a pictorial causality. Lastly, the dematerialization of the particle is exposed, along with the analysis of the propositions that articulate them. Such propositions contain compelling reasons that both explain and describe physical phenomena. The reconstruction of his epistemology is grounded in Hanson’s own texts, utilizing Lund’s comments to guide the research, as well as the presentation of the theses of authors within Hanson’s philosophy of science. This theoretical delimitation allows for the defense that, during the process of discovering particles, the theoretical network contains principles that obstruct observation, even though it is plausible to conceive them in terms of an internal structural organization among levels of scientific discourse.