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    In this unit we have looked at the "appearance/reality" distinction, and have puzzled over the relationship between the two (and over our ability even to know that such a distinction even exists).  What are the implications of this distinction for science? If the goal of science is to understand the world as it really is, and not simply as how it appears, then being able to distinguish from reality from appearance is critical.

ASSIGNMENT: If the views of either Descartes, Russell, Locke, or Berkeley were true, how (if at all) would this affect science and the scientific method?  (Go HERE to get a good idea of how working scientists approach science)

Each person in the group will write a 3-5 page paper. The paper itself will be divided into two parts:

In Part I you will offer the group’s answer to the question posed above.

In Part II you will  pick one of these 4 philosophers mentioned in the question, describe their view in detail, and explain how (if it were true) it would affect science.