Scientific What is Realism philosophy of What is the aim of science? Scientific realism is associated science? with the second tradition with There are two main traditions respect to the aim of science. According to scientific realism, Philosophy of science is the with respect to the aim of science should aim at providing branch of philosophy that science. According to the first theories that we believe to be deals with conceptual tradition the aim of science is true. problems and foundational merely to save the phenomena: issues arising from the current That is, to provide us with a But why would someone hold practice of science as well as good description and a good this view? The most famous its history. It can ask general analysis of the available argument for scientific realism questions such as: What is evidence, without caring is called the ‘no miracles science? What counts as whether the explanatory story argument’: scientific knowledge? How do that the theory provides is true our scientific theories track or false. According to the Premise 1: Scientific theories, nature? Or it can ask more second tradition, the aim of in general, are very successful in making predictions. specific questions such as: science is not just to save the Premise 2: This is either What is the nature of space- phenomena, but rather to tell because of a miracle or because time? How should we classify us the truth about the scientific theories are true. biological species? How phenomena. In other words, we want the scientific theory to Premise 3: The existence of effective are randomized miracles is highly doubtful. controlled trials for testing new get things right in the sense that what it says about the Conclusion: Therefore, drugs in medicine? And so on. scientific theories must be true. phenomena corresponds to the way things really are in nature.

INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY MOOC

Questions Scientific Anti- Realism

Explain in your own words what the aims Scientific anti-realism is associated with the first of science might be. Can you give an tradition with respect to the example? Are scientific aim of science. According to the most famous of its possible What is scientific realism? What is theories true? formulations, namely involved in embracing a realist view of constructive empiricism, science? accepting a theory does not imply believing that the theory What is the aim of is true. Instead, accepting a What is constructive empiricism? Why is science? Are theory implies only the belief it an anti-realist position? scientific theories that the theory is empirically adequate in the sense that it How can a constructive empiricist explain objectively true? If saves the phenomena. And, contrary to the ‘no miracles’ the success of science? Can you think of so, what does this argument for scientific realism, any example that may illustrate this mean? Should we constructive empiricism can point? explain the success of science be realists about by postulating a ‘Darwinian’ Do you think that it is possible for a science? explanation for it: Scientific scientific theory to be false? Can you theories are born into a life of give any examples? fierce competition where only the successful ones survive, i.e., those that latch onto actual regularities in nature and save the phenomena!