Realism for Realistic People

by Hasok Chang

In this innovative book, Hasok Chang constructs a philosophy of science for 'realistic people' interested in understanding and promoting the actual practices of inquiry in science and other knowledge-focused areas of life. Inspired by pragmatist philosophy, he reconceives the very notions of reality and truth on the basis of his concept of the 'operational coherence' of epistemic activities, and offers new pragmatist conceptions of truth and reality as operational ideals achievable in actual scientific practice. Rejecting the version of scientific realism that is concerned with claiming that our theories correspond to an ultimate reality, he proposes instead an 'activist realism': a commitment to do all that we can actually do to improve our knowledge of realities. His book will appeal to scholars and students in philosophy, science and the history of science, and all who are concerned about the place of science and empirical truth in society.

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction

296 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2023

Reviews

[Matthew J Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic new work by Hasok Chang. I do have some bones to pick with the version of "pragmatism" that Hasok espouses. While I would not argue that we should be slavishly devoted to classical pragmatism, I do think that classical pragmatism has it right in two places where Hasok departs from the tradition, putting him more in the realm of the new "analytic" pragmatism (I dislike the terminology) rather than classical pragmatism. The first is that he leaves no place for the role of non-mind-framed preconceptual/noncognitive experience that plays such an important role especially in the work of Dewey. The second is that he does not escape the dichotomy between theoretical and practical reason that, to me, is the central insight of pragmatism. (He does not even complete the decentering of propositional knowledge in favor of active knowledge that he promises in the opening chapter.)

That said, there's a ton to recommend this book: it is a vivid defense of the most thoroughgoing pragmatism I have seen in recent philosophy of science. It contains a compelling critique of “correspondence realism,” powerful defenses of recognizable pragmatist accounts of truth and reality, and a further articulation of Hasok’s pluralist, activist, progressivist account of scientific realism, the broad outlines of which I am very sympathetic to and find quite ably defended.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thoughts on Pragmatic Philosophy are still coming together as they relate to what I believe. With that caution, this book is grist for the mill of that process. Even when I disagree with Chang I come to clarify my own position just a bit more. Perhaps if I keep prodding they will become so clear not even Dr Chang would deny they correspond to the world?

[sube · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title needs work, but I very much enjoyed this formulation of pragmatism as a full instead of narrow empiricism and action-oriented philosophy to epistemology, emphasising how propositional knowledge is a sub-species of active knowledge, that emphasises instead the operational coherence & guiding actions for defining truth.

I enjoyed his critique of correspondence-truth theories, and how knowledge depends upon framing reality in particular concepts to make it legible, thus one can only compare representations to each other in being truth-apt, and how scientific realism would in practice often be a hindrance to science. I also like his emphasis on understanding truth and reality by refining our ordinary language.

Him also referencing Carnap and noting how phenomenology could enrich pragmatism's orientation towards action and experience was pretty cool. I have to read what the scientific realists say, as he criticises them quite sharply, but I found his pragmatist approach very good and convincing so far. It very much came across as a very realistic way of doing science, yet intend on refining our thought so that we can improve our knowledge further.

[Shreya Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

an extremely comprehensible read. chang recognises that his ideas of realistic philosophy, i.e. activist realism has been attempted before but not to its full potential, which he attempts to do in this book. without ever directly disrespecting science, the book criticises scientists and philosophers of science for the untouchable status they have lent to science. activist realism is an idea that promotes one into their inquiry without ever claiming the true reality of the discoveries.
Chang's philosophy resonates well with me.