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A Critical introduction to scientific realism / Paul Dicken.

By: Material type: TextTextSeries: Bloomsbury critical introductions to contemporary epistemologyPublisher: London, UK : Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 2016Description: 1 online resourceContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • computer
Carrier type:
  • online resource
ISBN:
  • 9781472575883
  • 1472575881
  • 9781472575890
  • 147257589X
  • 9781474290333
  • 1474290337
  • 9781472575913
  • 1472575911
  • 1472575903
  • 9781472575906
Subject(s): Genre/Form: Additional physical formats: Print version:: A Critical Introduction to Scientific Realism.DDC classification:
  • 501 23
LOC classification:
  • Q175.32.R42
Online resources:
Contents:
FC ; Half title; Bloomsbury Critical Introductions to Contemporary Epistemology; Title; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1 The historical background to the scientific realism debate; 2 The legacy of logical empiricism; 3 The No-Miracles Argument; 4 The Pessimistic Meta-Induction; 5 Wholesale and retail arguments for scientific realism; 6 Structural realism; 7 Constructive empiricism; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.
Summary: What are the reasons for believing scientific theories to be true? The contemporary debate around scientific realism exposes questions about the very nature of scientific knowledge. A Critical Introduction to Scientific Realism explores and advances the main topics of the debate, allowing epistemologists to make new connections with the philosophy of science. Moving from its origins in logical positivism to some of the most recent issues discussed in the literature, this critical introduction covers the no-miracles argument, the pessimistic meta-induction and structural realism. Placing arguments in their historical context, Paul Dicken approaches scientific realism debate as a particular instance of our more general epistemological investigations. The recurrent theme is that the scientific realism debate is in fact a pseudo-philosophical question. Concerned with the methodology of the scientific realism debate, Dicken asks what it means to offer an epistemological assessment of our scientific practices. Taking those practices as a guide to our epistemological reflections, A Critical Introduction to Scientific Realism fills a gap in current introductory texts and presents a fresh approach to understanding a crucial debate.
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Online resource; title from PDF title page (EBSCO, viewed April 18, 2016).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

What are the reasons for believing scientific theories to be true? The contemporary debate around scientific realism exposes questions about the very nature of scientific knowledge. A Critical Introduction to Scientific Realism explores and advances the main topics of the debate, allowing epistemologists to make new connections with the philosophy of science. Moving from its origins in logical positivism to some of the most recent issues discussed in the literature, this critical introduction covers the no-miracles argument, the pessimistic meta-induction and structural realism. Placing arguments in their historical context, Paul Dicken approaches scientific realism debate as a particular instance of our more general epistemological investigations. The recurrent theme is that the scientific realism debate is in fact a pseudo-philosophical question. Concerned with the methodology of the scientific realism debate, Dicken asks what it means to offer an epistemological assessment of our scientific practices. Taking those practices as a guide to our epistemological reflections, A Critical Introduction to Scientific Realism fills a gap in current introductory texts and presents a fresh approach to understanding a crucial debate.

FC ; Half title; Bloomsbury Critical Introductions to Contemporary Epistemology; Title; Copyright; Contents; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1 The historical background to the scientific realism debate; 2 The legacy of logical empiricism; 3 The No-Miracles Argument; 4 The Pessimistic Meta-Induction; 5 Wholesale and retail arguments for scientific realism; 6 Structural realism; 7 Constructive empiricism; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

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