Antirealist Explanations of the Success of Science

@article{Kukla1996AntirealistEO,
  title={Antirealist Explanations of the Success of Science},
  author={Andr{\'e} Kukla},
  journal={Philosophy of Science},
  year={1996},
  volume={63},
  pages={S298 - S305}
}
  • A. Kukla
  • Published 1 September 1996
  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy of Science
Scientific realists have argued that the truth(likeness) of our theories provides the only explanation for the success of science. I consider alternative explanations proposed by antirealists. I endorse Leplin's contention that neither van Fraassen's Darwinist explanation nor Laudan's methodological explanation provides the sort of explanatory alternative which is called for in this debate. Fine's suggestion--that the empirical adequacy of our theories already explains their success--is more… 
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This thesis sets out to challenge the assumption widely held among IR scholars that Scientific Realism (SR) is the definite and final interpretation of realism. The introduction of SR into IR as the…
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The pessimistic induction over scientific theories (Poincaré in Science and hypothesis, Dover, New York, 1905/1952) holds that present theories will be overthrown as were past theories. The…
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