Lauener Foundation for Analytical Philosophy

Symposium

Wednesday 05 September - Thursday 06 September 2018
Bern, Switzerland

8th International Lauener Symposium on Analytical Philosophy
on Themes from Bas van Fraassen

Professor Bas van Fraassen

(Princeton University)
(San Francisco State University)

The Semantic Approach to Philosophy of Science, after Fifty Years

The 1960s saw many revolutions, worldwide, and some of that epoch’s revolutionary spirit manifested itself in philosophy of science, with strong reactions against the dominant ‘Received View’ inherited from Logical Positivism. Scientific realism emerged to dispute ontology, Kuhn turned our eyes back to history of science, and the semantic approach replaced the Positivist methodological framework for philosophy of science. The Logical Positivist revolution was about 50 years old in 1968; but now the semantic approach has reached age 50 as well. I will discuss its fortunes and misfortunes, add some polemics, and ask what new, third revolution may already be happening or to come.

Professor Bas                               van Fraassen

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