"An authoritative account ofthe semantic conception of theories by one of its chief developers. Suppe hasalways seen the semantic conception as providing a way of moving beyond empiricistphilosophies of science. This book provides the definitive account of his viewsnot only on the issue of realism, but also on a variety of other issues centralto the philosophy of science."-- Ronald N. Giere, author of Explaining Science: A Cognitive Approach

"An authoritative account ofthe semantic conception of theories by one of its chief developers. Suppe hasalways seen the semantic conception as providing a way of moving beyond empiricistphilosophies of science. This book provides the definitive account of his viewsnot only on the issue of realism, but also on a variety of other issues centralto the philosophy of science."-- Ronald N. Giere, author of Explaining Science: A Cognitive Approach

"An authoritative account ofthe semantic conception of theories by one of its chief developers. Suppe hasalways seen the semantic conception as providing a way of moving beyond empiricistphilosophies of science. This book provides the definitive account of his viewsnot only on the issue of realism, but also on a variety of other issues centralto the philosophy of science."-- Ronald N. Giere, author of Explaining Science: A Cognitive Approach