Enhance Your Learning with Philosophy - Scientific Realism Flash Cards for quick revision
A philosophical position that asserts the existence of an external world independent of human observation and believes that scientific theories provide approximately true descriptions of this world.
Abstract or hypothetical entities postulated by scientific theories to explain and predict observable phenomena, such as atoms, quarks, or black holes.
The process of gathering empirical data through the use of senses or instruments, which plays a crucial role in scientific inquiry and the confirmation or refutation of theories.
An argument for scientific realism that claims the success of scientific theories in making accurate predictions and technological advancements is miraculous if these theories are not approximately true.
An argument against scientific realism that suggests past scientific theories, which were once successful, have been repeatedly proven false, casting doubt on the truthfulness of current theories.
An argument for scientific realism that argues the success of scientific theories in explaining and predicting phenomena cannot be explained by mere coincidence or luck, but rather by their approximate truth.
The idea that available evidence is insufficient to uniquely determine the truth or falsity of scientific theories, allowing for multiple theories to be compatible with the same evidence.
The philosophical problem of justifying the inference from past observations to future events, which is crucial for scientific reasoning and the reliability of scientific theories.
Epistemic virtues or criteria used to evaluate scientific theories, such as simplicity, explanatory power, predictive accuracy, and coherence, which are often considered as indicators of truth.
The process of generating new scientific ideas or theories, often influenced by creativity, intuition, serendipity, and personal biases, which precedes the justification and acceptance of these ideas.
The process of evaluating and confirming scientific ideas or theories through empirical evidence, logical reasoning, peer review, and experimental testing, leading to their acceptance or rejection.
The recognition that scientific knowledge is socially constructed and influenced by various factors, including cultural, political, economic, and institutional contexts, as well as social interactions among scientists.
The cumulative advancement of scientific knowledge and understanding over time, often characterized by paradigm shifts, new discoveries, technological innovations, and the refinement of existing theories.
Various objections and criticisms raised against scientific realism, including the problem of theory change, the underdetermination thesis, the pessimistic meta-induction, and the argument from the history of science.
An alternative approach to scientific realism that regards scientific theories as mere tools or instruments for making predictions and organizing empirical data, without making claims about their truth or approximate truth.
An alternative approach to scientific realism that emphasizes the empirical adequacy of scientific theories, focusing on their ability to account for and predict observable phenomena, rather than their truth or approximate truth.
An alternative approach to scientific realism that emphasizes the importance of the structural relationships and mathematical formalism of scientific theories, rather than their ontological commitments or truthfulness.
An alternative approach to scientific realism that seeks to understand scientific knowledge and inquiry through the lens of natural sciences, integrating empirical evidence, cognitive psychology, and evolutionary biology.
Speculations and debates about the future prospects and developments of scientific realism, including potential advancements in scientific methodology, philosophy of science, and the integration of different scientific disciplines.
The idea that observations and perceptions are influenced by prior theoretical assumptions, expectations, and background knowledge, challenging the notion of purely objective and theory-independent observations.
The philosophical thesis that available evidence is insufficient to uniquely determine the truth or falsity of scientific theories, allowing for multiple theories to be compatible with the same evidence.
The recognition that scientific decisions and choices, such as accepting or rejecting a theory, involve risks and consequences, particularly in cases where the potential harms or costs of false positives or false negatives are high.
A philosophical approach to science associated with Karl Popper that emphasizes the importance of falsifiability and empirical testing in distinguishing scientific theories from non-scientific ones.
A probabilistic approach to scientific inference and confirmation that uses Bayes' theorem to update the probability of a hypothesis in light of new evidence, taking into account prior probabilities and likelihoods.
The process of selecting or preferring one scientific theory over others based on various criteria, such as empirical adequacy, explanatory power, simplicity, coherence, and predictive accuracy.
The idea that available empirical data or evidence is insufficient to uniquely determine the truth or falsity of scientific theories, allowing for multiple theories to be compatible with the same data.
The process of replacing or revising existing scientific theories with new ones, often driven by empirical anomalies, conceptual problems, or the emergence of more successful or comprehensive theories.
A form of reasoning in which the best or most plausible explanation for a given set of evidence or phenomena is preferred, often used in scientific inquiry and theory evaluation.
A philosophical theory of truth that defines truth in terms of coherence or logical consistency within a system of beliefs or propositions, emphasizing the interconnectedness and mutual support of true statements.
A theoretical virtue or criterion used to evaluate scientific theories, favoring simpler explanations or hypotheses over more complex ones, often expressed as the principle of Occam's razor.
A theoretical virtue or criterion used to evaluate scientific theories, measuring their ability to provide meaningful and illuminating explanations for a wide range of phenomena or empirical observations.
A theoretical virtue or criterion used to evaluate scientific theories, assessing their ability to make accurate predictions about future observations or empirical data, often tested through experimental verification.
A theoretical virtue or criterion used to evaluate scientific theories, referring to the logical consistency, internal harmony, and mutual support among different parts or aspects of a theory.
A cognitive bias or tendency to interpret or favor evidence in a way that confirms one's preexisting beliefs or hypotheses, potentially leading to the uncritical acceptance or rejection of scientific theories.
A fundamental change or revolution in scientific thinking, often characterized by the replacement of an existing scientific paradigm or framework with a new one, leading to significant shifts in theories, methodologies, and research practices.
A philosophical approach that seeks to explain complex phenomena or systems in terms of simpler or more fundamental components, often associated with reductionist explanations in the natural sciences.
A philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of studying and understanding phenomena or systems as wholes, rather than reducing them to their constituent parts, often associated with holistic explanations in the social sciences.
A form of rationality or reasoning that focuses on the most effective means to achieve a given goal or end, often associated with instrumentalist approaches to science and decision-making.
A form of rationality or reasoning that focuses on the acquisition and justification of true beliefs or knowledge, often associated with realist approaches to science and the pursuit of truth.
A systematic and empirical approach to scientific inquiry that involves formulating hypotheses, conducting experiments or observations, analyzing data, and drawing conclusions, aiming to uncover and understand natural phenomena.
A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, methods, and assumptions of science, addressing questions about the scientific method, scientific knowledge, scientific progress, and the relationship between science and other areas of human knowledge.
A philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of sensory experience and empirical evidence in the acquisition of knowledge, often associated with the scientific method and the rejection of a priori reasoning.
A philosophical approach that emphasizes the importance of reason, logic, and a priori knowledge in the acquisition of knowledge, often associated with the use of deductive reasoning and mathematical proofs.
A form of reasoning that involves generalizing from specific observations or instances to form universal or probabilistic claims, often used in scientific inference and the formulation of scientific laws or theories.
A form of reasoning that involves deriving specific conclusions from general principles or premises through logical inference, often used in the testing or application of scientific theories.
The capacity of a scientific theory or hypothesis to be proven false or refuted through empirical evidence or observation, considered an important criterion for distinguishing scientific theories from non-scientific ones.
The lack of a common measure or standard for comparing or evaluating different scientific theories or paradigms, often associated with radical changes in scientific frameworks or conceptual frameworks.
The ongoing debate and philosophical dispute between scientific realists, who believe in the truth or approximate truth of scientific theories, and anti-realists, who reject or doubt the truthfulness of scientific theories.
A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, properties, and relationship between the mind, consciousness, mental states, and physical or neural processes, addressing questions about the nature of knowledge, perception, and subjective experience.
A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, structure, and use of language, addressing questions about meaning, reference, truth, communication, and the relationship between language and thought.
A branch of philosophy that examines the nature, foundations, and methods of mathematics, addressing questions about the nature of mathematical objects, the truth of mathematical statements, and the relationship between mathematics and logic.
A branch of philosophy that examines the foundations, concepts, and theories of physics, addressing questions about the nature of space, time, matter, energy, causality, and the fundamental laws of the universe.
A branch of philosophy that examines the foundations, concepts, and theories of biology, addressing questions about the nature of life, evolution, genetics, consciousness, and the relationship between organisms and their environment.