Sankey, Howard (2001) Scientific Realism: An Elaboration and a Defence. [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper describes the position of scientific realism and presents the basic lines of argument for the position. Simply put, scientific realism is the view that the aim of science is knowledge of the truth about observable and unobservable aspects of a mind-independent, objective reality. Scientific realism is supported by several distinct lines of argument. It derives from a non-anthropocentric conception of our place in the natural world, and it is grounded in the epistemology and metaphysics of common sense. Further, the success of science entitles us to infer both the approximate truth of mature scientific theories and the truth-conduciveness of the methods of science.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Sankey, Howard
Keywords:	Scientific realism, common sense
Subjects:	General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User:	Howard Sankey
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2001
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 17:01
Item ID:	304
Subjects:	General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date:	2001
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/304

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