Perspectival Realism

She provides interesting and substantial reframing/rethinking of some key issues that have emerged in past realist/anti-realist debates, arguing for the contemporary cosmopolitan scientist's "rights and obligations" to share scientific knowledge and its benefits. * R. DeWitt, CHOICE *
A bridging project like Massimi pursues is deeply appealing. This broad divide between a philosophical focus on the messy details of science and a philosophical focus on what science achieves recurs, I think, because philosophers are more or less united in our desire to accommodate both focuses. Massimi's Perspectival Realism positions itself to do justice to both focuses and ultimately transcend the divide. Along the way, it is incredibly expansive in the philosophical questions and philosophical work it engages with. ...Indeed, this book is expansive and ambitious enough that it may need to be read perspectivally. * Angela Potochnik, The Philosophical Quarterly *
Massimi's new book is, by far, the most complex, comprehensive and intellectually exciting attempt of rethinking the epistemological and metaphysical foundations of perspectival realism since the publication of Giere's Scientific Perspectivism. ....her book is going to be a turning point for the state of the art in scientific perspectivism and for the general philosophy of science per se. We are at the forking junction of our own philosophical scientific garden, with strong grounds to believe that we found, thanks to Massimi, a genuine path rather than a dead-end. * Daian Bica, International Studies in the Philosophy of Science *
Massimi's book constructs a new vision of realism in science that will be highly influential for years to come. * Carrie Figdor, New Books Network *
Massimi presents a spirited defence of a philosophical position that is at once perspectivalist and realist, and she supports it with detailed case studies in the history of science as well as contemporary practice. Her view of the role of perspective in scientific representation is challenging and provocative, and will help to show the way out of the aporiae of traditional realist/anti-realist ways of thinking. * Bas van Fraassen *
What is really out there? Philosophers might argue about whether a thing is real, while scientists ignore the question entirely. Exploring the novel view of perspectival realism, Massimi guides us in the explorations of real phenomena as studied by scientists. Through delightful examples from physics to psychology, she reveals new insights that can satisfy sceptical philosophers as well as scientists. Best of all, the view thrives on the social nature of the scientific enterprise. * Uta Frith *
I find perspectival realism to be among the most interesting viewpoints in contemporary philosophy of science. I much welcome the ample and insightful elaboration that Michela Massimi gives of it in this book * Carlo Rovelli *
This book is a must-read for anybody interested in cutting-edge philosophy of science. Massimi has successfully reframed the debate on scientific realism to address the central issue for contemporary research: how culturally situated scientific practices can—and do—produce reliable claims. Combining philosophical rigour with empirical insights from multiple scientific domains, this book ascribes the epistemic power of scientific research to its social, fallible and pluralist nature, thus providing a robust alternative to understanding scientific knowledge as a universally true "view from nowhere". * Sabina Leonelli *
Books that elaborate an illuminating and original approach to a cluster of important philosophical topics are rare. Those that combine their creativity with truly remarkable breadth and depth of scholarship are to be treasured. This is one of them. It is a magnificent achievement. * Philip Kitcher *
I(Omar El Mawas) believe that this philosophically rich and scientifcally packed book is a very welcome addition, and will likely become a classic text on realism and pluralism in science. * Omar El Mawas, Metascience *
Massimi has succeeded in setting the agenda for future philosophical thinking about science, both at the level of the content (rich as her book is in its engagement with a host of philosophical issues) and at the level of style (with its wealth of information about science in its history and its current polymorphous practice). * Maria Panagiotatou and Stathis Psillos, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *
I believe that this philosophically rich and scientifically packed book is a very welcome addition, and will likely become a classic text on realism and pluralism in science. * Omar El Mawas, Metascience *