T2

Bas van Fraassen the Constructive Empiricist

By Student Mike

  • Birth

    Bas van Fraassen is born in the Netherlands

  • Big move

    Bas van Fraassen moves with his family to Canada from Holland

  • College grad

    Bas van Fraassen earns his B.A. with honors in Philosophy from the University of Alberta
    Citation:
    “Bastiaan Cornelius Van Fraassen”, https://dof.princeton.edu/people/bastiaan-cornelius-van-fraassen

  • Master

    Bas van Fraassen earns his M.A. from the University of Pittsburgh
    Citation:
    “Bastiaan Cornelius Van Fraassen”, https://dof.princeton.edu/people/bastiaan-cornelius-van-fraassen

  • Doctor

    Bas van Fraassen earns his Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh
    Citation:
    “Bastiaan Cornelius Van Fraassen”, https://dof.princeton.edu/people/bastiaan-cornelius-van-fraassen
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    Professor 1

    Professor of Philosophy at Yale University
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    Professor 2

    Professor of Philosophy at the University of Toronto
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    Professor 2.5

    Professor of Philosophy at the University of Southern California

  • Constructive Empiricism

    Bas van Fraassen proposes Constructive Empiricism as an alternative to scientific realism. “Science aims to give us theories which are empirically adequate; and acceptance of a theory involves as belief only that it is empirically adequate.” (Fraassen, 12)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ66OlmUoCo
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSYKP6UKpwk
    Citation:
    Fraassen, Bas van. The Scientific Image, Oxford University Press, 2 Oct 1980.

  • Publishes the book “The Scientific Image”

    He develops a scientific realism alternative by constructing 3 mutually reinforcing theories. “The first concerns the relation of a theory to the world, and especially what may be called its empirical import. The second is a theory of scientific explanation. The third is an explication of probability as it occurs within physical theory”. (Fraassen preface)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHDIc0fRTpY
    Citation:
    Fraassen, Bas van. The Scientific Image, Oxford University Press, 2 Oct 1980.
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    Professor 3

    Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oM7-Wa_tAs

  • Award

    1986 Bas van Fraassen receives the Lakatos Award for his work in the field of Philosophy of Science. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brAOVfAoimQ Citation:
    “Constructive Empiricism”, First published Wed Oct 1, 2008; substantive revision Tue Apr 13, 2021. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/constructive-empiricism/

  • Book Laws and Symmetry published

    In this book Bas van Fraassen looks at the laws of the metaphysical, the laws of nature and gives his views on them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFSEMap5AiY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2zljR0nom4

  • Publishes book Quantum Mechanics: An Empiricist View

    Bas van Fraassen looks at quantum theory in three stages, what type of theory is required, the mathematical foundations of quantum theory, and then looks at model interpretations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z37ZbVRhJxw

  • Book The Empirical Stance

    Bas van Fraassen discusses the philosophical problems of scientific revolutions.
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    Professor 4

    2008 to present Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at San Francisco State University

  • Book Scientific Representation: Paradoxes of Perspective

    Bas van Fraassen discusses how we represent the world.

  • Bas van Fraassen earns the Hempel Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in Philosophy

    “What I value in teaching is to be involved in the students’ research and progress,” van Fraassen said.
    Aaron Bentley, a former pupil, said van Fraassen’s open demeanor makes him one of the more accessible teachers. Citation:
    “Philosophy professor Bas van Fraassen earns Hempel Lifetime Achievement Award”, Vikram Singh, 27 November 2012. https://goldengatexpress.org/37365/uncategorized/van-fraassen-hempel-award/