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An Examination of Some Aspects of Howard Stein's Work

Mitsch, Chris (2019) An Examination of Some Aspects of Howard Stein's Work. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Some understand Stein’s “Yes, but…” as an entry in the realism—instrumentalism debate (RID) itself, albeit one dissatisfied with then-extant positions. In this paper, however, I argue the opposite: Stein’s conception of science and his approach to its history and philosophy actually preclude the RID. First, I characterize Stein as persistently attending to his own historical and philosophical methods. I then describe his conception of science as both a dialectic and an enterprise, and I draw from this conception several conclusions about the relations between science and its history and philosophy. Finally, I provide a reading of “Yes, but…” that follows from Stein’s conception of science. On this reading, the RID is either irrelevant to or wrong of science and, moreover, distracts from a legitimate inquiry. I conclude by interpreting Stein’s remark that there is ``no difference that makes a difference’’ between a cogent and enlightened realism and a sophisticated instrumentalism.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Mitsch, Chriscmitsch@uci.edu
Keywords: Howard Stein, realism, instrumentalism
Subjects: General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User: Chris Mitsch
Date Deposited: 25 Apr 2019 04:50
Last Modified: 25 Apr 2019 04:50
Item ID: 15926
Subjects: General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science
General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date: 18 March 2019
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15926

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