Scientific Realists believe that whatever we believe now [discovered by Science] is only an approximation of [the mind-independent] reality but that the accuracy and fullness of understanding can be improved.
Scientific Antirealism
However, there is a more realistic opposing view to the above, i.e. on that is based on scientific antirealism [Kantian].
Scientific antirealism believe Science merely assumes an ideal transcendental reality to ground and facilitate the progress of science. As such, it rejects the existence of an absolutely human/mind independent reality.
Here is a presentation on the above thesis of scientific antirealism re Kant, i.e.;
Discuss??Transcendental Grounds of Science: An Introduction and Justification
Introduction: The concept of "Transcendental Grounds of Science" stems from Immanuel Kant’s philosophy, where certain foundational ideas — or "regulative ideals" — are posited not to describe reality directly, but to organize and guide scientific inquiry.
Kant argues that science relies on fundamental assumptions that structure how we understand and explore nature, even though these assumptions are not empirically verifiable themselves.
Transcendental grounds are thus the conditions that make coherent and systematic scientific knowledge possible, providing a framework within which empirical inquiry can operate effectively.
Justification: Kant justifies the need for transcendental grounds by showing that without them, science would lack orientation and coherence.
He points out that:
Systematic Unity: Science requires an assumption of unity in nature — that diverse phenomena can be systematically unified. This is not an empirical discovery but a guiding principle that directs scientists to seek connections and order across observations, enhancing both the depth and reach of scientific knowledge.
Regulative Ideals: Ideas like "pure earth," "pure air," and "fundamental power" are examples of scientific ideals that are not empirically achievable. These ideals, however, guide scientists by providing a target or model, like 100% purity in chemistry, that organizes inquiry and drives improvements in empirical methods. They operate as regulative, not constitutive, ideas — they do not claim that these pure forms exist in reality but rather serve as standards that bring coherence to scientific classifications and theories.
Principles of Rational Inquiry: Kant suggests that scientific progress depends on principles of homogeneity, specification, and affinity — concepts that lead us to assume continuity and gradation in nature. These principles guide the categorization of phenomena and support the search for connections across various domains, allowing scientists to form cohesive theories.
Boundary Concept of the Noumenon: The noumenon, or thing-in-itself, represents the ultimate boundary of our knowledge, reminding us that while science organizes and predicts phenomena within human cognitive limits, it does not access absolute reality. This boundary concept prevents science from overstepping into metaphysical claims about a mind-independent reality, allowing science to remain rigorous without assuming it uncovers reality in its entirety.
Conclusion: The Transcendental Grounds of Science refer to the underlying principles and ideals that enable scientific inquiry to pursue systematic unity and coherence. While these principles do not reveal an absolute reality beyond human cognition, they provide an essential framework that makes empirical science possible and meaningful. By adopting this transcendental perspective, we acknowledge the structured, framework-dependent nature of scientific knowledge, emphasizing that science is a human endeavor grounded in rational organization rather than an absolute disclosure of reality.
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