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Full Idea
The idea of a coherent theory of the noumena; consistent, systematic, and arrived at by 'the scientific method' seems to me to be chimerical.
Clarification
The 'noumena' is reality; 'chimerical' means illusory
Gist of Idea
It is an illusion to think there could be one good scientific theory of reality
Source
Hilary Putnam (Why there isn't a ready-made world [1981], 'Failure')
Book Ref
Putnam,Hilary: 'Realism and Reason: Papers vol 3' [CUP 1985], p.226
A Reaction
I sort of agree with this, but it definitely doesn't make me an anti-realist.
Related Idea
Idea 17644 Metaphysical realism is committed to there being one ultimate true theory [Putnam]
| 17644 | Metaphysical realism is committed to there being one ultimate true theory [Putnam] |
| 17645 | An alien might think oxygen was the main cause of a forest fire [Putnam] |
| 17648 | It is an illusion to think there could be one good scientific theory of reality [Putnam] |
| 17643 | Shape is essential relative to 'statue', but not essential relative to 'clay' [Putnam] |
| 17642 | The old view that sense data are independent of mind is quite dotty [Putnam] |