Scientific Realism and Reference to Theoretical Terms

Causal theories of reference in the philosophy of language and philosophy of science have suggested that it could resolve lingering worries about incommensurability between theoretical claims in different paradigms, to borrow Kuhn’s terms. If we co-refer throughout different paradigms, then the problems of incommensurability are greatly diminished. This paper reconsiders the challenge presented to scientific realism by the semantic incommensurability thesis. The realist may dispose of this challenge on the basis of a modified causal theory of reference, as argued by Philip Kitcher. Having Kitcher's theory of reference discussed, we will argue that it fails to distinguish genuine case of continuity of reference and cases of discontinuity.