Images of Science: Essays on Realism and Empiricism

by Paul M. Churchland (Editor), Clifford A. Hooker (Editor)

Overview

"Churchland and Hooker have collected ten papers by prominent philosophers of science which challenge van Fraassen's thesis from a variety of realist perspectives. Together with van Fraassen's extensive reply . . . these articles provide a comprehensive picture of the current debate in philosophy of science between realists and anti-realists."—Jeffrey Bub and David MacCallum, Foundations of Physics Letters

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780226106540
Publisher:	University of Chicago Press
Publication date:	10/15/1985
Series:	Science and Its Conceptual Foundations series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	317
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

Preface
Part I. Essays Addressed to Bas C. van Fraassen
1. Lex Orandi est Lex Credendi
Richard N. Boyd
2. The Ontological Status of Observables: In Praise of the Superempirical Virtues
Paul M. Churchfield
3. What Science Aims to Do
Brian Ellis
4. Constructive Realism
Ronald N. Giere
5. Explanation and Realism
Clark Glymour
6. Scientific Realism versus Constructive Empiricism: A Dialogue
Gary Gutting
7. Do We See through a Microscope?
Ian Hacking
8. Surface Dazzle, Ghostly Depths: An Exposition and Critical Evaluation of van Fraassen's Vindication of Empiricism against Realism
Clifford A. Hooker
9. Realism versus Constructive Empiricism
Alan Musgrave
10. What Can Theory Tell Us about Observation?
Mark Wilson
Part II. Bas C. van Fraassen Replies to His Critics
11. Empiricism in the Philosophy of Science
Bas C. van Fraassen
List of Contributors