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The Pragmatics of Explanation
He argued that scientific explanations are context-dependent and pragmatic. This means that what counts as a satisfactory explanation can vary depending on the context and the inquirer's needs, moving away from the idea of a universal standard for scientific explanation. -
Critique of Scientific Realism
Van Fraassen's work in The Scientific Image is also known for critiquing scientific realism. He argued that scientific realists overextend the reach of science by claiming that unobservable entities (like electrons) must exist because they are part of successful scientific theories. Van Fraassen, in contrast, proposed that accepting the usefulness of theories does not necessitate belief in the existence of unobservables. -
Constructive Empiricism
In his influential book The Scientific Image (1980), Bas van Fraassen introduced the concept of Constructive Empiricism. This philosophy asserts that science aims to create empirically adequate theories rather than to discover absolute truths about the world. According to van Fraassen, a theory is successful if it correctly describes observable phenomena, while unobservable entities are unnecessary for scientific theories to be successful. -
The Empirical Stance
van Fraassen expanded on his earlier work by exploring what it means to adopt an empirical perspective. He emphasized that empiricism is not just a set of doctrines but an evolving stance or attitude towards knowledge and inquiry. This book revisited the themes of constructive empiricism while considering new dimensions of philosophy, religion, and metaphysics.