| Course | HCI 313 Philosophy of Science in Health Care Understanding Paradigms of Health and Healing |
|---|---|
| Module | Module 1 |
| Paper type | Philosophy opinion paper |
| Length | About 368 words, 4 pages |
| Format | APA 7 student paper |
| School | Arizona State University |
| Program | BS in Health Innovation |
| Updated | October 2026 |
Free sample paper for HCI 313 Module 1
Real Enough to Treat: Where I Stand Between Realism and Anti-Realism in Health Science
Student Name
BS in Health Innovation, Arizona State University
HCI 313: Philosophy of Science in Health Care: Understanding Paradigms of Health and Healing
Instructor Name
Month Day, Year
Real Enough to Treat: Where I Stand Between Realism and Anti-Realism in Health Science
The Two Views
Scientific realism holds that our best scientific theories are approximately true descriptions of the world, including entities we cannot directly observe, such as viruses or receptors (Chakravartty, 2017). Its strongest support is the "no miracles" argument: if theories were not at least roughly true, their success in predicting and controlling the world would be a miracle (Putnam, 1975).
Anti-realism doubts that we can know theories are true beyond what we observe. Kuhn (2012) showed that science has moved through paradigm shifts in which accepted theories were replaced, which suggests caution about calling current theories true. Constructive empiricism holds that science aims only at empirical adequacy (van Fraassen, 1980), theories that correctly describe observable phenomena, and that accepting a theory need not mean believing in its unobservables.
Where I Stand
I lean toward realism, but cautiously. In health science, some theories have earned belief in their unobservable entities. Germ theory is an example: microbes were first inferred from patterns of disease, then seen under microscopes, cultured, sequenced and targeted by drugs and vaccines that work as the theory predicts. To call bacteria merely a useful fiction would ignore that success.
Other health concepts deserve a more anti-realist humility. Psychiatric diagnoses, for example, are defined by clusters of symptoms and have been revised many times. Treating them as useful categories that may later be redrawn, rather than as discovered natural kinds, seems more honest.
Why It Matters for Research and Practice
A cautious realist expects research to discover how bodies and diseases really work, which motivates mechanistic studies. Kuhn's history reminds me, however, that today's consensus may change, so I should hold conclusions with appropriate confidence and update them when evidence changes. In respiratory care, this means trusting well-established physiology while staying open to new findings, as when guidance on oxygen targets has been revised.
Conclusion
I am a realist about the parts of health science that have survived many independent tests and an anti-realist, or at least an agnostic, about newer or more constructed categories. That position lets me act confidently on strong evidence while remaining open to the next paradigm shift.
References
Chakravartty, A. (2017). Scientific realism. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy (Summer 2017 ed.). https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2017/entries/scientific-realism/
Kuhn, T. S. (2012). The structure of scientific revolutions (50th anniversary ed.). University of Chicago Press.
Putnam, H. (1975). Mathematics, matter and method: Philosophical papers (Vol. 1). Cambridge University Press.
van Fraassen, B. C. (1980). The scientific image. Clarendon Press.
Reading the HCI 313 Module 1 assignment instructions
The Topic Opinion Paper on realism and anti-realism is the second written assignment in HCI 313 Module 1, worth 15 points, after a one-page summary of the historical origins of the philosophy of science. Using the module's readings and videos, review the two views, then state where you personally fall on the spectrum as it applies to science and research. Keep it to one or two APA-formatted pages and back your view with two or more sources. Points are deducted when APA formatting and citation are not followed, so check both before submitting. Watch the realism lecture twice and note one example the instructor uses for each view before you draft.
How this HCI 313 Module 1 example is built
The sample defines realism with its main argument and anti-realism with two of its main thinkers in the first section. The second section states a cautious realist position and supports it with two contrasting health examples. A third section explains why the position matters for research and practice, and a short conclusion restates the stance in one sentence. Four references support the review and the opinion. Both health examples are concrete, so the abstract debate becomes something a health professional can picture. The position is stated in the section heading itself, so the stance is obvious from the start, and the conclusion restates the stance in plain words.
Where the marks sit in the HCI 313 Module 1 rubric
Fifteen points ride on this short paper. Graders confirm that both views are explained accurately, that the student takes a clear position, that the position is argued with examples and supported by at least two references and that APA format is followed within two pages. Marks drop for papers that only define terms, for opinions without reasons, for confusing realism with simple confidence in science and for missing or improperly formatted citations. Graders also notice whether the student represents the opposing view fairly before arguing against it, a sign of philosophical maturity. Accurate use of key terms such as empirical adequacy and paradigm also counts.
HCI 313 Module 1 help from the desk
Write one sentence defining each view before you start. Decide your position and the single best reason for it. Use one health example where your view fits well and one where it fits less well. Cite a philosophy source and at least one other reference. Keep to two pages. If the terms feel abstract, the desk can help you connect them to examples from your field. Read the module's videos again before choosing your position, and quote no more than a phrase from any source. Keep the paper to two pages. Ask whether your position would change for a different field of health science. Proofread your references, then check that each one appears in the text.
Write yours, or have the desk draft it
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HCI 313 Module 1 questions, answered
Where can I find a free HCI 313 Module 1 sample paper?
The full realism and anti-realism opinion paper on health science is on this page.
What is scientific realism?
The view that our best scientific theories are approximately true, including about things we cannot observe.
What is anti-realism in science?
The view that theories need only fit what we observe, without claiming to describe unobservable reality.
How long is the HCI 313 opinion paper?
One to two pages, supported by two or more references.
What is the no-miracles argument?
If successful theories were not roughly true, their predictive success would be a miracle.