-
The Beginning
Bas van Fraassen is a Dutch-American philosopher, and was born in 1941 in the then German-occupied Netherlands. He has a B.A. from the University of Alberta, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh -
The Scientific Image
In 1980 van Fraassenn published his book "The Scientific Image" in which he coined the term "constructive empiricism." Van Fraassen defines the view as follows: "Science aims to give us theories which are empirically adequate, and acceptance of a theory involves as belief only that it is empirically adequate."
With this doctrine, van Fraassen is widely credited with rehabilitating scientific anti-realism. -
Winning the LaKatos Award
In 1986, van Fraassen won the Lakatos Award endowed by the Latsis Foundation. It is awarded annually to somebody who has made great contribution to the philosophy of science community in the form of a book published in English within the last six years. That book was the "Scientific Image" -
Another Book: Laws of Symmetry
Bas van Fraassen published "Laws and Symmetry" in 1989. In the book van Fraassen rejects the argument that there are laws of nature, or that we must believe there are. The book further builds upon the empiricist view of science previously described in his work. -
Scientific Representation: Paradoxes of Perspective
The most recent book Fraassen has published, "Scientific Representation: Paradoxes of Perspective" presents a new way of looking at science. He considers scientific measurement outcomes as representations. In the book he mentions many paradoxes that have come up in contemporary science, as well as makes a complex analysis between appearance and reality in the scientific world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxE0RgI8U_o
Bas C. van Fraassen - Theological Epistemology: How Can We Know God?