An Introduction to Scientific Realism

My talk will give an introductory overview of the contemporary scientific realism debate in the philosophy of science. Scientific realism is a positive stance taken towards our best scientific theories, that they are true and mind-independent. Recently, it has become uncommon or difficult to defend scientific realism, due to powerful anti-realist arguments. Using examples in the history of science to illustrate the arguments, I clarify the underlying assumptions of both sides of the debate. I then briefly turn to my own research on Michael Polanyi, a 20^th century chemist and philosopher, as a way to re-frame the debate and critique these assumptions. I argue that Polanyi gives us tools to take scientific realism in a more productive direction, one more in line with the actual practice of science.