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. |
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after-image analysis anthropocentricity argue argument assert axiomatise axioms behaviour biology blue brain process chapter Church's theorem colour words concepts consider Copenhagen interpretation course Craig's theorem D. M. Armstrong deduce elementary particles ethics example existence fact four-dimensional generalisations Gödel Hilary Putnam human hypothesis inner experiences laws light lines of force logical machine macroscopic objects materialist mathematical mean metaphysical minutes ago nature Nevertheless nonsense normal percipient notion number theory Objectivist ordinary language pain particles perhaps phenomenalism phenomenalist philosophers physical mechanism physical theory physicalist physicist planet plausible possible predicate calculus 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 tenses theorem theoretical entities things tion tomato true universe utterance W. V. Quine wavelengths Wilfrid Sellars wish