
Practical Realist Philosophy of Science
Reflecting on Rein Vihalemm's Ideas
Lexington Books (Publisher)
Published on 7. May 2024
Book
Hardback
270 pages
978-1-6669-3722-0 (ISBN)
Description
The Estonian philosopher of science Rein Vihalemm (1938-2015) left two prominent and fruitful philosophical-methodological legacies that continue to captivate philosophers of science: a methodological distinction of scientific disciplines and the practical realist philosophy of science. Edited by Ave Mets, Endla Lohkivi, Peeter Mueuersepp, and Jaana Eigi-Watkin, Practical Realist Philosophy of Science: Reflecting on Rein Vihalemm's Ideas explores some of these fruits that have sprung from philosophy of science, and the applications of those approaches through three main ideas: (back)grounds of the practical approach, metaphysics of practices, and special sciences. The first part features authors who juxtapose Vihalemm's approach with those of prominent philosophers on the practical and material basis of cognition, providing support and refinement to his framework. The second part delves into the metaphysical aspects of science and practices, and comprehending them. The third part centers around examples of Vihalemm's approach to specific scientific disciplines within chemistry, biology and humanities. These diverse implications outlined in this book, supported by solid ground and compelling argumentation, offer an original contribution to this field.
Reviews / Votes
With inspiration from young Marx, Rein Vihalemm, an important pioneer of the philosophy of chemistry, developed an original account of practical realism as via media between standard scientific realism and anti-realism. In Practical Realist Philosophy of Science, edited by Ave Mets, Endla Lohkivi, Peeter Mueuersepp, and Jaana Eigi-Watkin, these two interrelated themes of Vihalemm's work are reflected and critically examined by experts on the philosophy of science and its history. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in the relations of scientific realism and contemporary pragmatism. -- Ilkka Niiniluoto, University of Helsinki Over the last decades, philosophy of science has become increasingly practice-oriented. Although this development is sometimes described as a specific turn or approach to philosophy of science, it is a many-faceted development with many different roots and instantiations. Using the work of the Estonian philosopher of science Rein Vihalemm as a prism, Practical Realist Philosophy of Science: Reflecting on Rein Vihalemm's Ideas adds many new dimensions to our understanding of the history and the scope of practice-oriented philosophy and builds important bridges between traditions from different regions. With contributions from many of the key scholars in the field, this volume ought to be on the reading list of any practice-oriented philosophers of science. -- Hanne Andersen, Kobenhavns UniversitetMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Illustrations
4 BW Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
596 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6669-3722-0 (9781666937220)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Practical Realist Philosophy of Science
Reflecting on Rein Vihalemm's Ideas
E-Book
05/2024
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€107.99
Available for download

Practical Realist Philosophy of Science
Reflecting on Rein Vihalemm's Ideas
E-Book
05/2024
1st Edition
Lexington Books
€107.99
Available for download
Persons
Ave Mets is research fellow of philosophy of science at the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics at the University of Tartu.
Endla Lohkivi is associate professor of philosophy of science at the University of Tartu.
Peeter Mueuersepp is associate professor of science and technology studies at Tallinn University of Technology.
Jaana Eigi-Watkin is research fellow in philosophy of science at the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics at the University of Tartu.
Endla Lohkivi is associate professor of philosophy of science at the University of Tartu.
Peeter Mueuersepp is associate professor of science and technology studies at Tallinn University of Technology.
Jaana Eigi-Watkin is research fellow in philosophy of science at the Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics at the University of Tartu.
Content
Introduction
Ave Mets, Endla Lohkivi, Peeter Mueuersepp, Jaana Eigi-Watkin
Part I: (Back)Grounds of the Practical Approach
Chapter 1: John Dewey as a Precursor of Rein Vihalemm
Juho Lindholm
Chapter 2: Vihalemm's Practical Realism: A Wittgensteinian Appraisal
David Hommen
Chapter 3: Rein Vihalemm's Practical Realism and the Pragmatics of Actual Scientific Inquiry: Why Scientific Realism Can Only Be Practical
Kenneth R. Westphal
Part II: Metaphysics of Practices
Chapter 4: Pluralist Realism: Where Onticity and Practice Meet
Olimpia Lombardi
Chapter 5: Practice-Oriented Realism in the Tradition of Rein Vihalemm
Hasok Chang
Chapter 6: Mental Kinds and Practical Realism
Bruno Moelder
Part III: Special Sciences
Chapter 7: Practical Realism and the Philosophy of the Humanities
Sami Pihlstroem
Chapter 8: The Philosophical Neglect of Chemistry Revisited
Klaus Ruthenberg
Chapter 9: What Does Chemistry Do?
Alexander Pechenkin and Apostolos Gerontas
Chapter 10: Pluralist Chemistry and the Constructive Realist Philosophy of Science
Ave Mets
Chapter 11: Molecular Biology and Genetics: On the Evolution of the Nature of Modern Biology and Its Relation to Chemistry and Physics
Apostolos Gerontas
Conclusion
About the Contributors
Ave Mets, Endla Lohkivi, Peeter Mueuersepp, Jaana Eigi-Watkin
Part I: (Back)Grounds of the Practical Approach
Chapter 1: John Dewey as a Precursor of Rein Vihalemm
Juho Lindholm
Chapter 2: Vihalemm's Practical Realism: A Wittgensteinian Appraisal
David Hommen
Chapter 3: Rein Vihalemm's Practical Realism and the Pragmatics of Actual Scientific Inquiry: Why Scientific Realism Can Only Be Practical
Kenneth R. Westphal
Part II: Metaphysics of Practices
Chapter 4: Pluralist Realism: Where Onticity and Practice Meet
Olimpia Lombardi
Chapter 5: Practice-Oriented Realism in the Tradition of Rein Vihalemm
Hasok Chang
Chapter 6: Mental Kinds and Practical Realism
Bruno Moelder
Part III: Special Sciences
Chapter 7: Practical Realism and the Philosophy of the Humanities
Sami Pihlstroem
Chapter 8: The Philosophical Neglect of Chemistry Revisited
Klaus Ruthenberg
Chapter 9: What Does Chemistry Do?
Alexander Pechenkin and Apostolos Gerontas
Chapter 10: Pluralist Chemistry and the Constructive Realist Philosophy of Science
Ave Mets
Chapter 11: Molecular Biology and Genetics: On the Evolution of the Nature of Modern Biology and Its Relation to Chemistry and Physics
Apostolos Gerontas
Conclusion
About the Contributors