Is science without philosophy like speech without grammar, or like books
without reviewers? The Philosophy of Science, edited by David Papineau (Oxford
University Press, £30, ISBN 0 19 875164 8), is by, for and largely about
philosophers. So, go native. The authors should get out more in the evenings,
and meet some connectionists. Is there “a reality which is not affected by our
beliefs about it”? Not that we can tell, is the majority verdict: so, the
realists lose on points.
More from 91av
Explore the latest news, articles and features
Popular articles
Trending 91av articles
1
Human heads have changed shape a lot in the past 100 years
2
We have figured out a new way to send messages into the past
3
100-year-old assumption about the universe may soon be overturned
4
Why the keto diet could be a revolutionary way to treat mental illness
5
Thought-provoking photographs capture what it feels like to have ADHD
6
Weird 'transdimensional' state of matter is neither 2D nor 3D
7
We may finally have a cure for many different autoimmune conditions
8
The best new science fiction books of May 2026
9
Is consciousness more fundamental to reality than quantum physics?
10
2026 will be the hottest year on record, leading scientist predicts
