From instrumentalism to constructive realism - Theo A.F. Kuipers

Surprisingly, modified versions of the confirmation theory
(Carnap and Hempel) and truth approximation theory (Popper) turn out
to be smoothly sythesizable. The glue between the two appears to be
the instrumentalist methodology, rather than that of the
falsificationalist.

The instrumentalist methodology, used in the separate, comparative
evaluation of theories in terms of their successes and problems
(hence, even if already falsified), provides in theory and practice
the straight road to short-term empirical progress in science (
la Laudan). It is also argued that such progress is
also functional for all kinds of truth approximation: observational,
referential, and theoretical. This sheds new light on the long-term
dynamics of science and hence on the relation between the main
epistemological positions, viz., instrumentalism (Toulmin, Laudan),
constructive empiricism (Van Fraassen), referential realism (Hacking,
Cartwright), and theory realism of a non-essentialist nature
(constructive realism
la Popper).

Readership: Open minded philosophers and scientists. The book
explains and justifies the scientist's intuition that the debate among
philosophers about instrumentalism and realism has almost no practical
consequences.