Social Constructivism Vs. Scientific Realism

Abstract

In part one, I will consider some issues that are foundational for our discussion of fact and value in medical diagnosis. I will give an account of the nature of a scientific fact, a value, and of the relationship between the two. This chapter is propaedeutic to our consideration of fact and value in diagnosis. It will also serve as an introduction to the view I call “value-dependent realism.”