Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science

Front Cover
Psychology Press, 2000 - Philosophy - 170 pages

Social constructionists maintain that we invent the properties of the world rather than discover them. Is reality constructed by our own activity? Do we collectively invent the world rather than discover it?
André Kukla presents a comprehensive discussion of the philosophical issues that arise out of this debate, analysing the various strengths and weaknesses of a range of constructivist arguments and arguing that current philosophical objections to constructivism are inconclusive. However, Kukla offers and develops new objections to constructivism, distinguishing between the social causes of scientific beliefs and the view that all ascertainable facts are constructed.

 

Selected pages

Contents

Constructivism and the sociology of scientific knowledge
7
The varieties of constitutive constructivisms
24
The empirical case for constructivism
32
The a priori case for constructivism
44
Constructive empiricism and social constructivism
59
The infinite regress of constructions
68
The Duhemian asymmetry
80
The problem of the two societies
91
Constructivism and logic
119
Relativism
125
Irrationalism
149
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science
André Kukla
Limited preview - 2000
Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science
André Kukla
Limited preview - 2013
Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science
André Kukla
No preview available - 2002
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Common terms and phrases

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References to this book

About the author (2000)

André Kukla is a Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Philosophy at the University of Toronto. He is the author of Studies in Scientific Realism.

Bibliographic information

TitleSocial Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science
Philosophical issues in science
Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Science, André Kukla
AuthorAndré Kukla
Editionillustrated
PublisherPsychology Press, 2000
ISBN0415234182, 9780415234184
Length170 pages
Subjects ›  › 

Philosophy / General
Philosophy / History & Surveys / Modern
Science / Philosophy & Social Aspects
  
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