Anti-Realism is a philosophical position that questions the existence of an objective reality independent of our perceptions or beliefs. It suggests that our understanding of the world is shaped by social, cultural, and linguistic contexts, meaning that what we consider "real" may vary from one perspective to another. This view contrasts with realism, which asserts that an objective reality exists regardless of human thought.
In the realm of science, anti-realism challenges the idea that scientific theories accurately describe the world. Instead, it posits that theories are merely useful tools for predicting observations rather than true representations of reality. Prominent figures in this debate include philosophers like Bas van Fraassen and Thomas Kuhn, who emphasize the role of human interpretation in shaping knowledge.