PHILOS 128 Study Guide - Final Guide: Falsies, Elmer Fudd, Wrinkle
Document Summary
The following o ers a review of course content for a philosophy of science nal exam. After a discussion of the vices and virtues of realism and antirealism about science, certain anticipated exam questions are presented, complete with prospective answers. This sketches out my thoughts on why realism is superior to antirealism, in antici- pation of the in-class nal essays of philosophy of science. I will discuss the general virtues of scienti c realism over realism and then tie realism and antirealism to issues discussed in quantum mechanics. A realist is one who deliberately declines to select his subjects from the beautiful and harmonious and, more especially, describes ugly things and brings out details of the unsavory sort. ". Realism holds that electrons exist and are the same electrons that existed 5000 years ago. Common sense realism maintains that ordinary objects like apples and trees exist.
