Is science without philosophy like speech without grammar, or like books
without reviewers? The Philosophy of Science, edited by David Papineau (Oxford
University Press, £30, ISBN 0 19 875164 8), is by, for and largely about
philosophers. So, go native. The authors should get out more in the evenings,
and meet some connectionists. Is there “a reality which is not affected by our
beliefs about it”? Not that we can tell, is the majority verdict: so, the
realists lose on points.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Technology
Test moderators use AI-generated writing to judge literacy standards
News
Mind
THC in cannabis may reduce nightmares in people with PTSD
News
Environment
Fishers detonate a bomb every hour on one Indonesian coral reef
News
Environment
How bad is the UK drought and how long will it continue?
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles