The dispute between nomological realists and anti-realists has been reflected in the formulation of various arguments and counterarguments that reach topics as diverse as modality, induction and the very scientific practice. In this context it is common to take the main realist argument –the nomological argument– for an instance of Inference to the Best Explanation, while Nomological Anti-realism is considered a skeptical alternative concerning natural laws, sustained by independent reasons. This paper aims to review that image of the Nomological Realism vs. Anti-realism debate in light of what we believe is an appropriate distinction between abduction and Inference to the Best Explanation.

La disputa entre realistas y antirrealistas nomológicos se ha plasmado en la formulación de diversos argumentos y contraargumentos que alcanzan tópicos tan heterogéneos como la modalidad, la inducción y la misma práctica científica. En ese marco es frecuente tomar al principal argumento realista, el llamado argumento nomológico, por una instancia de la inferencia a la mejor explicación, mientras que el antirrealismo nomológico se considera una alternativa escéptica respecto de las leyes naturales fundamentada por razones independientes. El presente trabajo propone revisar esa imagen del debate realismo vs. antirrealismo nomológicos a la luz de lo que, consideramos, es una adecuada distinción entre abducción e inferencia a la mejor explicación.

The dispute between nomological realists and anti-realists has been reflected in the formulation of various arguments and counterarguments that reach topics as diverse as modality, induction and the very scientific practice. In this context it is common to take the main realist argument –the nomological argument– for an instance of Inference to the Best Explanation, while Nomological Anti-realism is considered a skeptical alternative concerning natural laws, sustained by independent reasons. This paper aims to review that image of the Nomological Realism vs. Anti-realism debate in light of what we believe is an appropriate distinction between abduction and Inference to the Best Explanation.