🧵 Excited to share my new paper in SocTheory on how "chains of reference" help us rethink realism in the sciences! I argue that both social and natural sciences achieve epistemi success through shared practices, not just theories. Curious? Read on! (1/6) journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/... - ThreadSky

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crisnavarrete.bsky.social • 110 days ago

🧵 Excited to share my new paper in SocTheory on how "chains of reference" help us rethink realism in the sciences! I argue that both social and natural sciences achieve epistemi success through shared practices, not just theories. Curious? Read on! (1/6)

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07352751241291831

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crisnavarrete.bsky.social•110 days ago

Over the past few decades, debates on the scientific status of the social sciences have intensified. Mechanistic, perspectivist, and interpretivist approaches have each offered their own critiques and defenses of realism. But where does that leave us? (2/6)

crisnavarrete.bsky.social•110 days ago

In my paper, I revisit Ian Hacking's interventionist argument with a Latourian twist, suggesting that a common thread runs across all sciences: the construction of "chains of reference." These practical epistemic activities link theories with real-world phenomena. (3/6)

crisnavarrete.bsky.social•110 days ago

Rather than getting stuck in ontological debates, I propose that realism should be first grounded in the everyday practices that scientists—both social and natural—use to generate success. It’s about how we construct knowledge and instruments, not just abstract theories! (4/6)

crisnavarrete.bsky.social•110 days ago

By focusing on these chains of reference, we shift the debate towards a practice-based argument for realism, one that can bridge differences in epistemological commitments across disciplines and within sociological positions. (5/6)

crisnavarrete.bsky.social•110 days ago

For those interested in science and technology studies, philosophy of science, or sociological theory, I hope this paper offers a new lens on how we can think about success, realism, and scientific practice. Check it out here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07352751241291831(6/6)

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