RE: 2 Thought Experiments to Forever change the way you Look at the World + Philosophy Discussion
I agree with your first part. As for the empirical I have to say I come from the Buddhist/Relational Quantum Mechanics/Zero world/Quantum Darwinism side. Basically I deny the existence of classical systems. This video should summarize most of my own views:
The problem I have with an empirical world where we derive knowledge from sensory experience is that the existence of an empirical world has not been proven. There is only proof that we perceive something. Whether it's Schrödinger's cat or Double-slit experiment the people who call for a multiverse tend to believe that all possibilities exist. Zero world theorists like me say that none of the possiblities has objective existence, reality takes place at the moment of of observation; not before or after. Read: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_Zeno_effect
Nalin De Silva's constructive relativism is more like a better and sophisticated version of instrumentalism
Instrumentalism is a view in philosophy of science that claims scientific theories are merely useful tools for predicting phenomena instead of true or approximately true descriptions of the physical world.
Duhem claimed that physics could be and should be done independently of deep metaphysical assumptions. Instead, the aim of physical theory is to develop mathematical laws that predict phenomenological laws with as much precision, completeness, and simplicity as possible. In Duhem’s words:
A physical theory is not an explanation; it is a system of mathematical propositions whose aim is to represent as simply, as completely, and as exactly as possible a whole group of experimental laws
I don't subscribe to later versions of instrumentalism and things such as Copenhagen interpretation of quantum mechanics. But I'm all for practical uses. Newton's Theory of Gravity was a bunch of BS. The same goes for many of his life's work. But they can be useful in everyday life.
Bitcoin is a stupid, slow expensive crypto. But even that has many uses. I just refuse to accept that Bitcoin is the real deal.
Nobody has proven that the reality exist when it's not observed. Existence of an objective reality is in stark contrast to quantum mechanical facts.