Neo-pragmatism and science

Abstract

This thesis investigates the philosophical doctrine of neo-pragmatism. It investigates three core aspects of the position: its methodological orientation, minimalist approach to truth and anti-representationalism. I relate these to the practice of science, investigating how neo-pragmatism ought to approach philosophy of science and understand scientific practice. In particular I seek to develop its minimalist stance. I do this in two ways. One is by fusing Arthur Fine’s Natural Ontological Attitude with neo-pragmatism’s account of truth, the other is by investigating how anti-representationalism impacts scientific discourse and how it ought to treat scientific vocabulary.