Realism

Susan Haack

pp. 415-436

in: Ilkka Niiniluoto, Matti Sintonen, Jan Woleński (eds), Handbook of epistemology, Berlin, Springer, 2004

Abstract

"Realism' refers, not to a single, simple thesis, but to a whole family of positions; and so it contrasts, not with a single, simple, opposing thesis, but with another whole family of non-realist positions — idealism, nominalism, instrumentalism, relativism, irrealism, etc., etc.