Constructive Empiricism Now

According to the theory, when you pressed the switch, you affected the state of the very fine all-pervasive medium, the ether. [...]we can represent what we see as indirectly observed real things behind the microscopes lenses.I agree. Since we cant see things that dont exist, the phrase seeing an im...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophical studies 2001-11, Vol.106 (1/2), p.151-170
Main Author: Van Fraassen, Bas C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Belief
Constructive empiricism
Empiricism
Epistemology
Hallucination
Light
Microscopes
Phenomena
Philosophy
Pragmatics
Rainbows
Theory
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Summary:According to the theory, when you pressed the switch, you affected the state of the very fine all-pervasive medium, the ether. [...]we can represent what we see as indirectly observed real things behind the microscopes lenses.I agree. Since we cant see things that dont exist, the phrase seeing an image is code for something we are describing metaphorically or analogically. If I accept a theory then I believe that it is empirically adequate, and I also commit myself to seeing nature through that theorys eyes. [...]in addition to that belief in the theorys empirical adequacy, there is a pragmatic aspect to acceptance.
ISSN:0031-8116
1573-0883
DOI:10.1023/A:1013126824473