Accurate Quote by Elliott Sober
“Unfortunately, philosophers of science usually regard scientific realism and scientific anti-realism as monistic doctrines. The assumption is that there is one goal of all scientific inference - finding propositions that are true, or finding propositions that are predictively accurate. In fact, there are multiple goals. Sometimes realism is the right interpretation of a scientific problem, while at other times instrumentalism is.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Philosophy of Biology, Elliott Sober, 1993
Scientific inquiry pursues multiple aims, not just truth or predictive accuracy, and both realism and instrumentalism can be appropriate.
In simple terms: Science has many goals, not just truth or prediction.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and balance different scientific aims.
Themes
philosophy of science
realism
instrumentalism
methodology
Mood
reflective
analytical
Type
theoretical
critical
When to use this quote
- research design
- policy analysis
- education curriculum
- science communication
Key Concepts
epistemology
ontology
theory choice
Questions to Reflect On
- What goals guide your current scientific work?
- When might instrumentalism be more useful than realism?
A Different Perspective
Some problems may resist clear categorization into realism or instrumentalism.
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