Philosophy and Scientific RealismOriginally published in 1963. In an introductory chapter the author argues that philosophy ought to be more than the art of clarifying thought and that it should concern itself with outlining a scientifically plausible world view. Early chapters deal with phenomenalism and the reality of theoretical entities, and with the relation between the physical and biological sciences. Free will, issues of time and space and man’s place in nature are covered in later chapters. |
Contents
PHYSICAL OBJECTS AND PHYSICAL THEORIES | |
PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY | |
THE SECONDARY QUALITIES | |
CONSCIOUSNESS | |
MAN AS A PHYSICAL MECHANISM | |
THE SPACETIME WORLD | |
MAN AND NATURE | |
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Common terms and phrases
after-image analysis anthropocentricity argue argument assert axiomatise axioms behaviour behaviouristic biology blue brain process chapter Church's theorem concepts conscious consider Copenhagen interpretation course deduce discriminations elementary particles ethics example existence fact four-dimensional generalisations Gödel Hilary Putnam human hypothesis inner experiences J. J. C. Smart laws light lines of force logical machine macroscopic objects materialist mathematical means metaphysical minutes ago nature Nevertheless nonsense normal percipient notion Objectivist ordinary language pain particles perhaps phenomenalism phenomenalist phenomenological thermodynamics philosophers Philosophy of Science physical mechanism physical theory physicalist physicist planet plausible possible predict present prime number proof properties proposition protons psychology qualia quantum mechanics reason relation say that electrons scientific secondary qualities Sellars sensation sense datum sense experiences sense impressions sentence simply sort space-time statistical suppose talk tenseless theorem theoretical entities things tomato true universe utterance W. V. Quine wavelengths Wilfrid Sellars wish