Main Works:
* The Scientific Image (1980): His most famous work, arguing for a "constructive empiricism" which emphasizes the empirical adequacy of scientific theories rather than their truth.
* Laws and Symmetry (1989): Examines the nature of scientific laws and the role of symmetry in their formulation.
* Quantum Mechanics: An Empiricist View (1991): Offers an empiricist interpretation of quantum mechanics.
* Empirical Semantics (1980): A collection of essays on the philosophical foundations of science.
* Images and Words: The Origins of a Scientific Realism (2002): A historical and philosophical analysis of the rise of scientific realism.
* Scientific Representation: Paradoxes of Perspective (2008): Examines the relationship between scientific models and the world.
* Modality, Morality, and Belief (2014): A collection of essays exploring various philosophical topics.
Other Publications:
He has also authored numerous articles and book chapters on various topics related to the philosophy of science, including:
* The nature of scientific explanation
* The role of models in science
* The philosophical implications of quantum mechanics
* The nature of scientific realism
* The philosophy of probability
Van Fraassen's work is characterized by its clarity, rigor, and attention to detail. He has made significant contributions to the philosophy of science, particularly in his defense of constructive empiricism and his critique of scientific realism.