Rethinking Social Constructivism: Beyond the Dichotomy of Scientific Realism and Antirealism

Abstract

In this paper, I re-evaluate the theoretical implications of social constructivism, which has persisted as the most influential movement in science studies for more than 30 years. Social constructivism has been perceived as being antirealist, a school of thought that denies the reality of the world. Although antirealism has been criticized by scientific realists, who believe that the sciences can define reality whereas religion and pseudo-sciences cannot, the dichotomy of realism and antirealism that philosophers of science often impose is problematic because, in a philosophical sense, social constructivism is neither realism nor antirealism. In response, in this paper I introduce the term anti-antirealism to clarify theoretical claims that the dichotomy of realism and antirealism have blurred.