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Realism
About: Realism is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10799 publications have been published within this topic receiving 175785 citations.
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69 citations
TL;DR: I consider recent treatment of the model-theoretic view, and find that although some of these accounts harbour the promise of realism, this promise is deceptive and of no help to the realist.
Abstract: The semantic view of theoriesis one according to which theoriesare construed as models of their linguisticformulations. The implications of thisview for scientific realism have been little discussed. Contraryto the suggestion of various champions of the semantic view,it is argued that this approach does not makesupport for a plausible scientific realism anyless problematic than it might otherwise be.Though a degree of independence of theory fromlanguage may ensure safety frompitfalls associated with logical empiricism, realism cannot be entertained unless models or (abstractedand/or idealized) aspects thereof are spelled out in terms of linguistic formulations (such as mathematical equations),which can be interpreted in terms of correspondencewith the world. The putative advantage of thesemantic approach – its linguistic independence – isthus of no help to the realist. I consider recent treatmentsof the model-theoretic view (Suppe, Giere, Smith), and find that although some of these accounts harbour the promiseof realism, this promise is deceptive.
69 citations
Book•
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: The God's eye point of view and the realist aim of science were discussed in this paper, where the authors argue that it is rational to believe that scientific theories are true.
Abstract: Contents: Introduction Scientific realism The God's eye point of view Truth and entity realism Incommensurability and the language of science Induction and natural kinds Methodological pluralism, normative naturalism and the realist aim of science Realism, method and truth Why is it rational to believe scientific theories are true? Bibliography Index.
69 citations