‘A Limited View of Realism’ by Prof Michele Marsonet

One may admit that a distinction can be drawn between the natural world on the one hand, and the social-linguistic world on the other. However, according to many authors, it should not be difficult to understand that we began to identify ourselves and the objects that surround us only when the social-linguistic world emerged from the natural one, and this in turn means that our criteria of identification are essentially social and linguistic.

Leaving aside any kind of Platonism and recognising – in a pragmatist vein – that the concept of ‘truth’ is essentially tied to human interests, we need an intersubjective criterion giving rise to the notion of a world which is both objective and mind-independent.

In other words, as John Dewey, stated the distinction subject/object is not to be found in nature: it arises when men have such an intersubjective criterion, i.e., within a social world which is created by men themselves.

Michele Marsonet graduated in Philosophy at the University of Genoa and received a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh (USA, Philosophy of Science). His academic career began as a Research Fellow of the Italian National Research Council. He is now Full Professor of Philosophy of Science and has been Chairman of the Philosophy Department. Currently he is Dean of the School of Humanities of the University of Genoa.

His main interests are: Problems of scientific realism, Incommensurability and conceptual schemes, Pragmatism’s philosophy of science, Science and metaphysics, Philosophical Logic, Political philosophy. He published 25 books and 200 articles in Italian, English, French and Polish.

Monday 27th February Time: 5.30pm - 7.30pm Faculty of Arts Library, University of Malta