Anti-realism is one of the examples I was thinking of. The survey found more anti-realists in philosophy of science than outside it, probably because those in philosophy of science were more likely to be thinking of instrumentalism, operationalism, or various forms of positivism vs. realism while those outside philosophy of science were more likely to be thinking of idealism vs. realism. Admittedly idealism is another vague, murky concept, but I suppose the most plausible interpretations would include some of the mistakes of the anti-naturalists. But since most anti-realists aren’t idealists (especially not those in the philosophy of science), the problems with idealism aren’t relevant.
Ernest Nagel[1] discussed the instrumentalism vs. realism debate in his very influential The Structure of Science, and I personally agree with both his conclusion that the issue is far less substantial than it may appear, and his comment that “many scientists as well as philosophers have indeed often used the term ′ real’ in an honorific way to express a value judgment and attribute a ‘superior’ status to the things asserted to be real. There is perhaps an aura of such honorific connotations whenever the word is employed, despite explicit avowals to the contrary and certain to the detriment of clarity. For this reason it would be desirable to ban the use of the word altogether” (151). Nagel’s views in the philosophy of science were close to those of the positivists, and of course many of the positivists were scientists by training (and it remains true that philosophers of science often have strong backgrounds in science).
It seems to me that some of the debate over reductionism is worsened by realist biases. While many anti-reductionists are motivated by a more general anti-naturalism, there have been many prominent advocates of “non-reductive physicalism” of one kind or another (people like Fodor and Putnam and their followers) who have a different motivation. They seem to be very concerned that reductionism somehow claims that psychological laws and phenomena are somehow not “real” because on reductionism only the physical base is really “real.” It seems to me that those mistaken views are an example of the problem Nagel talks about.
Anti-realism is one of the examples I was thinking of. The survey found more anti-realists in philosophy of science than outside it, probably because those in philosophy of science were more likely to be thinking of instrumentalism, operationalism, or various forms of positivism vs. realism while those outside philosophy of science were more likely to be thinking of idealism vs. realism. Admittedly idealism is another vague, murky concept, but I suppose the most plausible interpretations would include some of the mistakes of the anti-naturalists. But since most anti-realists aren’t idealists (especially not those in the philosophy of science), the problems with idealism aren’t relevant.
Ernest Nagel[1] discussed the instrumentalism vs. realism debate in his very influential The Structure of Science, and I personally agree with both his conclusion that the issue is far less substantial than it may appear, and his comment that “many scientists as well as philosophers have indeed often used the term ′ real’ in an honorific way to express a value judgment and attribute a ‘superior’ status to the things asserted to be real. There is perhaps an aura of such honorific connotations whenever the word is employed, despite explicit avowals to the contrary and certain to the detriment of clarity. For this reason it would be desirable to ban the use of the word altogether” (151). Nagel’s views in the philosophy of science were close to those of the positivists, and of course many of the positivists were scientists by training (and it remains true that philosophers of science often have strong backgrounds in science).
It seems to me that some of the debate over reductionism is worsened by realist biases. While many anti-reductionists are motivated by a more general anti-naturalism, there have been many prominent advocates of “non-reductive physicalism” of one kind or another (people like Fodor and Putnam and their followers) who have a different motivation. They seem to be very concerned that reductionism somehow claims that psychological laws and phenomena are somehow not “real” because on reductionism only the physical base is really “real.” It seems to me that those mistaken views are an example of the problem Nagel talks about.
[1] Not to be confused with Thomas Nagel..