Realism and Anti-realism
Realism and anti-realism are two opposing views about scientific theories. Realism holds that scientific theories aim to describe reality, and that the entities they discuss (like electrons) truly exist, even if we can't see them directly. Anti-realism, on the other hand, suggests that scientific theories are useful tools for organizing observations and making predictions, but do not necessarily correspond to an objective reality. In the context of theory change and scientific progress, realists see the evolution of theories as a deeper understanding of the world, while anti-realists view it as refining our practical frameworks without claiming deeper truths about existence.
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Realism and anti-realism are two perspectives in philosophy regarding the nature of reality and our understanding of it. Realism asserts that an objective reality exists independently of human thoughts and perceptions; it believes we can know and understand this reality through observation and science. In contrast, anti-realism suggests that our knowledge is always shaped by our experiences, language, and social contexts, meaning that what we perceive may not reflect an objective reality. Essentially, realism trusts in a reality we can discover, while anti-realism emphasizes the subjective nature of our understanding of that reality.