Abstract This article develops an epistemological and representational analysis of theoretical particle-like constructs in modern physics, using a triad-structured framework that distinguishes between referential grounding (Base), symbolic representation (Representation), and procedural-institutional linkage (Linkage). While virtual particles in quantum field theory and condensed matter serve as our primary case study, we extend our analysis to encompass the so-called quasiparticles, e.g., Bloch electrons, phonons, plasmons, and excitations renormalized by Cooper pairing in Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer (BCS) superconductors. Rather than interpreting these constructs as either ontically real entities or mere calculational fictions, we conceptualize them as epistemic-mediating constructs embedded within the representational infrastructure of their respective physical theories. Our comparative analysis demonstrates that the scientific effectiveness of such constructs derives from their functional integration into modeling practices, computational techniques, and community standards, rather than from strong ontic commitments. By situating our investigation within contemporary debates on scientific representation and model-based reasoning, this paper contributes to a broader epistemology of theoretical entities across different domains of physics.
Belkheiri et al. (Thu,) studied this question.