Bas C. Van Fraassen: The Fortunes of Empiricism (9th Münster Lectures on Philosophy 2005)

"Participation in the Münstersche Vorlesungen zur Philosophie 2005 was an honor and a genuine intellectual pleasure for me. The symposium, with all its contributions by the Münster faculty and students, was a wonderfully valuable experience. I can hardly do justice to its spirit of free discussion, or adequately express my thanks, by these short replies. But I think that they will testify clearly to the stimulation the symposium provided and to how much I learned from this exchange." Bas van Fraassen Contents Preface.pdf Preface List of Abbreviations.pdf List of Abbreviations of Bas C. van Fraassen’s Publications 1. Weyl's paradox.pdf 1 Science as Representation 1.1 Weyl on isomorphism 1.2 The history behind Weyl’s point Lobachevsky measures Helmholtz Mathematicians’ reaction Philosophers’ reaction: There must be ‘a fact of the matter’! 2 Carnap: Der Logische Aufbau der Welt 2.1 The crucial problem 2.2 Return to the problem 3 Putnam’s Paradox 3.1 The argument Suppositions Argument 3.2 An example, an objection, and a realist ‘way out’ (?) 4 Doing without Metaphysics 4.1 Asserting a relation between phenomena and model 4.2 Cutting through isomorphism: the Essential Indexical 4.3 Return to our epistemological question Appendix: re Putnam References 2. Observability and the epistemic community.pdf Introduction 1 Constructive Empiricism and the Observable/Unobservable Distinction 2 Observability and the Epistemic Community 3 Observability and Objectivity Conclusion References 3. To be prussian or not to be prussian.pdf 1 2 3 4 References 4. The hardships of an empiricist.pdf Introduction 1 Setting the stage (A) Epistemic modesty and Philosophy of Science (B) Constructive Empiricism and Adequacy to Science (C) Balancing the Elements 2 Undermining the Compromise Conclusion References 5. Experience becoming fully literate.pdf Introduction 1 The Concept of Observation 2 Observability realistically construed 3 Running into a dilemma 6. Indexical truth.pdf Introduction 1 Truth as Correspondence to the Real World 2 Truth as indexical 3 Remnants of Realism – Observables in the Mind-Independent World References 7. There's life in the old dog yet.pdf Introduction 1 Scientific Language 2 Experience and Metaphysics 3 Inference to the best explanation Conclusion References 8. Laws and metaphysics.pdf 1 Laws, Necessity, and a Dilemma 2 Van Fraassen’s skepticism about laws 3 About becoming a metaphysician when you do not want to References 9. Empiricism without metaphysics.pdf Introduction 1 Van Fraassen’s conception of a stance The problem: Empiricism’s self-defeating argument against metaphysics The solution: Empiricism as a stance 2 Two accounts of possible discourse besides truth- and falsehood Consistency and a common ground Normative dimensions besides Truth- and Falsehood 3 The truth-dependence of philosophical stances Stances as policies Attitudes Values 4 Two final objections One belief or many? Teller or van Fraassen? Conclusion References 10. Replies.pdf Preamble: on Literate Experience and Realism 1 Observability and the Epistemic Community 1.1 Factual claims 1.2 The factual claim of observability 1.3 Our epistemic community 2 To be Prussian or not to be Prussian – van Fraassen and the Inference to the Best Explanation 2.1 Initial arguments using IBE in support of scientific realism 2.2 The ‘best of a bad lot’ argument 2.3 The ‘argument from indifference’ 2.4 Do we now have succor to offer the scientific realist? 2.5 The ‘no miracle argument’ – how the realist begs the question 3 The Hardships of an Empiricist – van Fraassen’s Compromise Between Epistemic Modesty and Adequacy to Science 3.1 Empiricists’ stake in the portrayal of science 3.2 The scientists’ pursuit of truth 3.3 A footnote to epistemic false modesty 3.4 The other challenge 4 Experience Becoming Fully Literate: van Fraassen On The Verge Of Constructivism 4.1 The two faces of experience 4.2 Metaphysical realism contested 4.2.1 Reification of structure 4.2.2 The one true story of the world 4.3 Observability is a matter of fact 5 Indexical Truth and Anti-Metaphysical Inclinations – Getting Rid of the Remnants of Realism 5.1 Truth as I used to think of it 5.2 What I think about truth now 5.3 Making sense of The Scientific Image in retrospect 6 There’s Life In The Old Dog Yet! – van Fraassen And The Death Of Metaphysics 6.1 The untold riches of metaphysics 6.2 Does today’s metaphysics have a different rationale? 6.3 Explicanda and simulacra 6.4 The metaphysical instinct 7 Laws and Metaphysics – Two Burdens Easily Discarded? 7.1 The dilemma and its origin 7.2 Two ways to understand the idea of laws of nature 8 Empiricism Without Metaphysics? – On van Fraassen’s Conception Of A Stance References CONTENTS Blank Page Blank Page Main description: "Participation in the Münstersche Vorlesungen zur Philosophie 2005 was an honor and a genuine intellectual pleasure for me. The symposium, with all its contributions by the Münster faculty and students, was a wonderfully valuable experience. I can hardly do justice to its spirit of free discussion, or adequately express my thanks, by these short replies. But I think that they will testify clearly to the stimulation the symposium provided and to how much I learned from this exchange." Bas van Fraassen

The annual Münster Lectures in Philosophy, which started in 1997, have evolved as a highly renowned get-together of philosophers. The invited guest for the respective lecture gives a public talk and participates in a one- to two-day-colloquium with members of the Philosophical Seminar (staff and students) of the University of Münster. Lectures, contributions of participants and replies of the guest philosophers are published in this series.

The Münsterschen Vorlesungen zur Philosophie, die seit 1997 jährlich stattfinden, bringen viele namhafte Philosophen zusammen. Der jeweilige Gastredner hält einen öffentlichen Vortrag und nimmt im Anschluss an einem Kolloquium mit Mitarbeitern und Studierenden der Universität Münster teil. Die Vorträge und Diskussionsbeiträge werden in dieser Reihe veröffentlicht.