return to list of latest ideas

Single Idea 21492

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 2. Realism]

Full Idea

The fundamental hypothesis of the method of science is this: There are real things, whose characters are entirely independent of our opinion of them.

Gist of Idea

Realism is basic to the scientific method

Source

Charles Sanders Peirce (The Fixation of Belief [1877]), quoted by Albert Atkin - Peirce 3 'method'

A Reaction

He admits later that this is only a commitment and not a fact. It seems to me that when you combine this idea with the huge success of science, the denial of realism is crazy. Philosophy has a lot to answer for.

Book Reference

Atkin,Albert: 'Peirce' [Routledge 2016], p.83