In response to Bas C. Van Fraassen’s argument for constructive empiricism, Alan Musgrave wrote an essay entitled, Realism versus Constructive Empiricism, as an argument for realism. In our essay we are attempting to rebut some of the arguments Van Fraassen’s makes as well demonstrate the importance of accepting scientific theories as a form of truth regardless of their overall Truth value by utilizing some of Musgrave’s arguments. We will do this by comparing the results of several studies recently published in the journal, Biosciences-Discuss, about oceanic acidification and its overall effect on oceanic biodiversity, and examine some of the claims made from an anti-realist view as well as the possible ramification of committing to anti-realism over realism. What is Scientific Realism? Scientific realism is defined by Grover Maxwell in his essay, The Ontological Status of Theoretical Entities as: “insisting that scientific theories reveal facts about the world beyond our capacity to directly perceive().” What Maxwell is saying here is that, realists believe unobservable entities, such …show more content…
This is an important distinction to be made. While there are certain tests that can be run, and specific chemicals that can be added to indicate the presence or absence of a chemical via color, is that really observation or is it instead detection? If we are detecting it and not observing it can we draw and relation between human activity and ocean acidification? Would it not also be possible that carbon is somehow being released into the ocean via some undiscovered under water event? The entire research paper cited above is nothing but a compilation of years worth of measurements done on ocean acidification. While anti-realists may question the validity of these findings it is important to ask two more questions, what if these findings are real and what if these findings are not
According to a scientists in the video, if all of the carbon that sits at the bottom of the ocean were released back into the atmosphere, the amount of carbon currently in our atmosphere would double1. The scientists in the video explains that they know carbon exists down at the ocean’s depths because marine life that dies will sink to the bottoms of the ocean to decay producing this organic carbon1. This is important to know because it is such an important system, that without these phytoplankton at the start of the process that brings carbon to the ocean floor, then the atmosphere would contain two times its carbon
Nasir Naqvi et al. confirm “that emotions play a role in guiding decisions” (261). The article “The Role” also mentions that “moral decisions…engage emotions, especially when one is required to consider the consequences of one’s actions for another’s well-being” (263). Perhaps learning about the plight of the calcifiers due to ocean acidification will be enough to change some minds. But, recognizing the impact it will have on humans will be the major factor in influencing others. This is what was wrong with Kolbert’s book: she did not discuss what acidification would do to humans. She could have explained that some zooplankton is weak against acidification, and since they assist in absorbing the carbon dioxide, it could be detrimental for humans to see these types of microscopic organisms become scarce. For, if they do, there would be even more carbon in the atmosphere, which would make it harder for humans to breathe. In addition, the lack of zooplankton would result in a decline of biodiversity, as zooplankton are the basis for various food webs. Less marine animals means less seafood for humans, which would be an immense problem because an innumerable amount of people depends on it. Everyone must learn the dangers of ocean acidification so that the predicted future can
...oceans. Anthropogenic systems such as the combustion of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution have greatly increased the rate of acidification to levels where negative impacts ensue. Negative impacts occur both to marine organisms that rely on certain water conditions to maintain vital functions and the environment which is damaged by highly acidic waters. There is great variation in the acidity of each of the oceans, differences caused by the chemical composition of the ocean and biogeography. Understanding of the potential impacts of ocean acidification is relatively new to the scientific community and therefore little is known on how to counteract anthropogenic influences. Although reducing the amount of carbon dioxide produced will in turn reduce the lowering of the oceans acidity levels and reduce negative impacts on the environment and marine organisms.
Realism, in philosophical terms, refers to the concept that there is a reality beyond our perception. This means that how we see things and what we believe about them has no impact on the nature of said things. For example an individual may see an object as blue and another see the same object to be red, this is merely a disagreement between both parties about how they should label the colour. This wouldn’t mean that both parties are discussing different objects, this shows that no matter what individual’s beliefs or thoughts on the real world are only ever approximations and do not accurately capture reality. (O’Brien, M and Yar, M, 2008)
...uring the age of discovery, it is that environments and ecosystems are fragile and can be easily altered with devastating results. Therefore, as humans continue to discover exciting new worlds, either in the darkest depths of the ocean or on the surface of a strange new planet, it is important that we as humans consider the ecological impacts that may result from those discoveries.
Realism claims that what we can review about our surrounding is established in the fact that they absolutely exist. What we believe about gathered information is what we think about the actual world. It states that there is an actual world that assimilates directly with what we think about it.
Major exploration may harm the environment due to how we exploit resources. According to Philippe Cousteau’s commentary, he states that “the world has fished, mined and trafficked the ocean’s resources to a point where we are actually seeing dramatic changes that are seriously impacting today’s generations” (70). This emphasizes that attempting major exploration has an impact in our environment. Additionally, Elisabeth Rosenthal’s “Stinging Tentacles Offer Hint of Oceans’ Decline” gives us an idea how pollution affects the climate. Dr. Josep-MarÍa Gili
The eradication of species numbers average at a toll close to one hundred percent of earths total living creatures. “It is the Earth's most severe known extinction event, with up to 96% of all marine species and 70% of terrestrial vertebrate species becoming extinct” (Sahney, and Benton 759). Not only where marine and terrestrial species effected but this catastrophic event is the only recogni...
Ocean acidity will spoil marine ecosystems if it remains persistent. Preserving sustainable fishing industries will become unmanageable if the carbon dioxide absorbed by the world’s oceans is not considerably abridged.
In the atmosphere carbon dioxide is chemically neutral, however when it dissolves in seawater it reacts with H2O to form a weak carbonic acid. Over recent years, oceans have become more acidic because of the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The acidity of the ocean is determined by the concentration of hydrogen ions which are then measured on a pH scale – where the greater the level of hydrogen ions, the lower the pH (Askins, 2008). As the pH of the ocean drops from the pre-industrial value of 8.2 to 7.8 by 2020, ocean acidification is predicted to have a great effect on the ocean. Many of the aquatic organisms are very sensitive to the acidity of water, and as a result there will be effects at all levels of the marine food web (Balch & Utgoff, 2009). The carbonate shells of marine animals for example can dissolve in acidic waters. Also coral reefs will also be impacted negatively by increased acidity in addition to the effect that warmer waters are already having on them (McCarty, Wolfenbarger,
Guinotte, J. M. and Fabry, V. J. (2008), Ocean Acidification and Its Potential Effects on Marine Ecosystems. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1134: 320–342. doi: 10.1196/annals.1439.013
“Arguments Concerning Scientific Realism” is Bas van Fraassen’s attack on the positive construction of science. He starts by defining scientific realism as the goal of science to provide a “literally true story of what the world is like;” and the “acceptance of a scientific theory” necessitates the “belief that it is true”. This definition contains two important attributes. The first attribute describes scientific realism as practical. The aim of science is to reach an exact truth of the world. The second attribute is that scientific realism is epistemic. To accept a theory one must believe that it is true. Van Fraassen acknowledges that a “literally true account” divides anti-realists into two camps. The first camp holds the belief that science’s aim is to give proper descriptions of what the world is like. On the other hand, the second camp believes that a proper description of the world must be given, but acceptance of corresponding theories as true is not necessary.
Oceans are such so vast that people underestimate the impact their actions —seeming so insignificant— have on them. Humans have by and large taken the oceans for granted; not considering how important a healthy ocean is to our survival. A popular mind-set is that the oceans are a bottomless supply of fish, natural resources, and an infinite waste dump. There are myriad reasons why the oceans should be saved and the most obvious one is marine life. With 71% of the Earth being covered by water, it is obvious that sea creatures are predominant form of life, making up 80% of the species of life on Earth. However, as important as marine life is, that is not the only reason why saving the oceans is crucial. The ocean floor provides natural resources such as, oil, natural gas, petroleum, minerals, medications, and ingredients for foods and products. The economic benefits of the oceans are huge and significant, as well. Fishing and fish products have provided employment to 38 million people and have generated about $124 billion in economic benefits. However, oceans are on the verge of crisis, marine life, natural resources, transportation, the economy, and important ingredients are at risk due to overfishing, pollution, and acidification. Thus, in this essay I will argue that, oceans are not impervious to human activity and threatening the health of the ocean threatens the health of humanity, since oceans key to our survival.
Realism has been formed from the root word “real”; depending on how the word is used realism can be sued in many ways. We often use the word realism when analyzing characters or objects in novels, stories, or even in movies. Realism is the mindset a person has in a particular situation at the giving time (for example if it’s snow outside, than, we know to dress for the cold weather because it’s snow outside; we don’t have to come outside to see if it’s cold).Realism can also be referred to realistic or realist meaning that things can be describes from a social, emotional, or a visual view; anything can be realism, realistic, or realist.
These results agree with the hypothesis that our “untouched and super-productive world” is affecting marine life ecosystems (Vannela, 2012). All of these results combined confirm the overall hypothesis that pollution is getting worse in the ocean and more marine life ecosystems are being affected, but there