Optimistic realism about scientific progress

Synthese 194 (9):3291-3309 (2017)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Scientific realists use the “no miracle argument” to show that the empirical and pragmatic success of science is an indicator of the ability of scientific theories to give true or truthlike representations of unobservable reality. While antirealists define scientific progress in terms of empirical success or practical problem-solving, realists characterize progress by using some truth-related criteria. This paper defends the definition of scientific progress as increasing truthlikeness or verisimilitude. Antirealists have tried to rebut realism with the “pessimistic metainduction”, but critical realists turn this argument into an optimistic view about progressive science.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,616

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Scientific progress without increasing verisimilitude: In response to Niiniluoto.Darrell Patrick Rowbottom - 2015 - Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A 51:100-104.
Science and Reality.Jan Faye - 2006 - In H. B. Andersen, F. V. Christiansen, K. F. Jørgensen & Vincent Hendriccks (eds.), The Way Through Science and Philosophy: Essays in Honour of Stig Andur Pedersen. College Publications. pp. 137-170.
Critical scientific realism.Ilkka Niiniluoto - 1999 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Does Scientific Realism Matter?Carl Alan Matheson - 1986 - Dissertation, Syracuse University
A novel defense of scientific realism.Jarrett Leplin - 1997 - New York: Oxford University Press.
Modest Realism.William Newton-Smith - 1988 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1988:179 - 189.
TRUTH, LAWS AND THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE.Mauro Dorato - 2011 - Manuscrito 34 (1):185-204.
How to Remain (Reasonably) Optimistic: Scientific Realism and the "Luminiferous Ether".John Worrall - 1994 - PSA: Proceedings of the Biennial Meeting of the Philosophy of Science Association 1994:334 - 342.

Analytics

Added to PP
2015-12-01

Downloads
125 (#134,369)

6 months
7 (#175,814)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Ilkka Niiniluoto
University of Helsinki

References found in this work

The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.Thomas S. Kuhn - 1962 - Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. Edited by Ian Hacking.
Reason, truth, and history.Hilary Putnam - 1981 - New York: Cambridge University Press.
Knowledge in a social world.Alvin I. Goldman - 1999 - New York: Oxford University Press.

View all 90 references / Add more references