Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

Philosophy Ethics & Moral Philosophy

Realism and Anti-Realism

by (author) Stuart Brock & Edwin Mares

Publisher
McGill-Queen's University Press
Initial publish date
Jan 2007
Category
Ethics & Moral Philosophy
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9780773594869
    Publish Date
    Jan 2007

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

Stuart Brock and Edwin Mares offer a clear introduction to different realist and anti-realist positions and arguments in five key domains - science, ethics, mathematics, modality, and fictional objects. Realism and Anti-Realism focuses on the core concept of realism, taking the perspective that, for each domain considered, there are facts or entities distinctive to that domain whose existence and nature is in some important sense objective and mind-independent. For each of the five areas the authors examine the various styles of argument in support of and against realism and anti-realism, showing how different positions and arguments arise, evaluating their success, and drawing some general conclusions about the assorted strategies. They provide in-depth explorations of error theory, fictionalism, non-cognitivism, relativism, and response-dependence, which they consider to be the most important positions in opposition to realism.

About the authors

Stuart Brock is senior lecturer, philosophy, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand). Edwin Mares is associate professor, philosophy, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand).

Stuart Brock's profile page

Edwin Mares is associate professor of philosophy at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. His books include Realism and Anti-Realism.

Edwin Mares' profile page

Editorial Reviews

"Essential reading for anyone who is interested in the contemporary realism/anti-realism debate." Eugenio Lombardo, University of Leeds