"There are a bewildering variety of ways the terms ""realism"" and ""anti-realism"" have been used in philosophy and furthermore the different uses of these terms are only loosely connected with one another. Rather than give a piecemeal map of this very diverse landscape, the authors focus on what they see as the core concept: realism about a particular domain is the view that there are facts or entities distinctive of that domain, and their existence and nature is in some important sense objective and mind-independent. The authors carefully set out and explain the different realist and anti-realist positions and arguments that occur in five key domains: science, ethics, mathematics, modality and fictional objects. For each area the authors examine the various styles of argument in support of and against realism and anti-realism, show how these different positions and arguments arise in very different domains, evaluate their success within these fields, and draw general conclusions about these assorted strategies. Error theory, fictionalism, non-cognitivism, relativism and response-dependence are taken as the most important positions in opposition to the realist and these are explored in depth. Suitable for advanced level undergraduates, the book offers readers a clear introduction to a subject central to much contemporary work in metaphysics, epistemology and philosophy of language."
By:
Stuart Brock, Edwin Mares Imprint: Routledge Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 198mm,
Width: 129mm,
Weight: 453g ISBN:9781844650255 ISBN 10: 1844650251 Series:Central Problems of Philosophy Pages: 224 Publication Date:01 October 2006 Audience:
College/higher education
,
General/trade
,
Primary
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
Brock, Stuart; Mares, Edwin
Reviews for Realism and Anti-Realism
Essential reading for anyone who is interested in the contemporary realism/anti-realism debate. - Eugenio Lombardo, University of Leeds