more from Hilary Putnam

Single Idea 17648

[catalogued under 7. Existence / D. Theories of Reality / 4. Anti-realism]

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 Reference

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]