Scientific Realism Made Effective

I argue that a common philosophical approach to the interpretation of physical theoriesuparticularly quantum field theoriesuhas led philosophers astray. It has driven many to declare the quantum field theories employed by practicing physicists, so-called effective field theories, to be unfit for philosophical interpretation. In particular, such theories have been deemed unable to support a realist interpretation. I argue that these claims are mistaken: attending to the manner in which these theories are employed in physical practice, I show that interpreting effective field theories yields a robust foundation for a more refined approach to scientific realism in the context of quantum field theory. The article concludes by briefly sketching some general morals for interpretive practice in the philosophy of physics. 1Introduction 2The Standard Account of Theory Interpretation 2.1Vices of the standard account 3A More Effective Realism 3.1Approximate truth 3.2Scales and ontology 4Conclusion.