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Born
Van Fraassen was born April 5th 1941 in Goes, Netherlands. As an accomplished professor he wrote essays and books about philosophical logic, probability theory and epistemology, metaphysics, philosophy of art and literature, and philosophy of religion which greatly influence science today. Van Fraassen in 2012 received the Philosophy of Science Association's inaugural Hempel Award for lifetime achievement in philosophy of science which goes to show what he had the greatest influence on. -
Constructive Empiricism: 'The Scientific Image'
Fraassen creates a book sharing his ideas of anti-realism. "Science aims to give us theories which are empirically adequate; and acceptance of a theory involves as belief only that it is empirically adequate." (plato,2008) This was arguing that theories are not facts of the world. This leads us to his book published in 2002 which supports 'Empirial Stance' explaining why someone would want to be a empiricist and not a realist. -
Van Fraassen book 'Laws and Symmetry'
In this book, Fraassen begins to examine and critique the concept of laws of nature. "He analyzes and rejects the arguments that there are laws of nature, or that we must believe there are, and argues that we should disregard the idea of law as an adequate clue to science." (oxford, 2003) This continues to show he was a man that continued to go against the general public's ideas. This is similar to his constructive empiricism ideas expressed in 'The Scientific Image'. -
empirial stance 2002-2008
Through his book 'Empirial Stance' he takes a stand for his ideas and offers new insights into the nature of science, empiricism, and philosophy itself. This book greatly influenced the logic of philosophy but it wasn't until his most recent work 'Scientific Representation: Paradoxes of Perspective' where he began to make models to support his previous ideas and thoughts on the picture theory. Creating an image of what relationship between appearance and reality in the scientific world are. -
Van Fraassen continues to be challenged and impact science
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-QUO_9LqMM Van Fraassen recent book and critiques while expressing his ideas has effected how scientist interpret and use data. In this video Fraassen is expressing his thoughts on against the question, "Can Philosophy Clarify Science vs. Theology?" He has to battle his belief's between god and science because if he believes in god that's a realism idea which goes against his philosophical ideas.
