Scientific realism posits unobservable entities have the same ontological status as observables
Image: AHert, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Scientific realism
Scientific realism posits unobservable entities have the same ontological status as observables
Scientific realism maintains that the universe, as described by science, exists independently of human perception. This perspective asserts that verified scientific theories provide true or approximately true descriptions of reality, even if some aspects are unobservable. The belief in scientific realism offers a robust explanation for the success of science, arguing that our knowledge extends beyond what is directly observable.
Example
The theory of general relativity, which predicts phenomena like gravitational waves, has been confirmed through observation, supporting the realist view that unobservable entities (like gravitational waves) have a real existence.
Understanding scientific realism helps explain why science can make accurate predictions about unobservable phenomena, reinforcing confidence in scientific theories and their applications.
Related concepts
Modal realism
Possible worlds are as real as the actual world
Instrumentalism
Instrumentalism views scientific theories as useful tools, not as descriptions of unobservable reality
Falsifiability
Popper introduced falsifiability as a criterion for scientific theories
Logical positivism
Logical positivism's verification principle claims only empirically verifiable statements are meaningful
Problem of universals
Universals question independent existence
The Crisis of European Sciences and Transcendental Phenomenology
Husserl's crisis argued that positivism neglected the lifeworld's meaning-giving role
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