>[!abstract] >The philosophy of science is the branch of philosophy that examines the foundations, methods, and implications of scientific inquiry. It addresses questions such as what distinguishes science from non-science, how scientific theories are justified, the nature of explanation and causation, and whether science reveals objective truths or merely useful models. Key debates include realism versus instrumentalism, the role of paradigms and revolutions (Kuhn), and the problem of induction (Hume, Popper). By critically analyzing how knowledge is produced and validated, the philosophy of science clarifies both the power and the limits of the scientific enterprise. ![[philosophy+of+science.png]] Diagram from [[Reece, 2019]]. ## Scientific realism and antirealism | From [[Chakravartty, 2008]] | The ontological question: mind-independent reality? | The semantic question: theories literally construed? | The epistemological question: knowledge? | | ----------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- | | Realism | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Constructive empiricism | Yes | Yes | Observable: yes<br>Unobservable: no | | Skepticism | Yes | Yes | No | | Logical positivism/empiricism | Yes/no/? | Observable: yes<br>Unobservable: no | Yes | | Traditional instrumentalism | Yes | Observable: yes<br>Unobservable: no | Observable: yes<br>Unobservable: no | | Idealism | No | No | Yes | >[!related] >- **North** (upstream): [[Epistemology]] >- **West** (similar): — >- **East** (different): [[Scientism]] >- **South** (downstream): [[Scientific method]]